From left to right: Pieter Strauss, Jeske van der Walt, Salet Smith, Elaine van der Merwe, Estel de Beer, Cherisé de la Rey, Carien Bloem from the AfriForum Theatre. (Photo: Provided)
On March 27, AfriForum Theatre, like many other theater lovers, celebrates World Theater Day. This day was started in 1961 by the International Theater Institute (ITI) and since then it has been celebrated annually worldwide.
“AfriForum Theater is this homecoming place for the community. One of the theatre’s focal points is to create the space for a professional theater experience that schools and community organizations can experience.
“On World Theater Day we invite everyone to be part of the wonderful world of the arts. Come and experience a performance, be aware of the people next to you and allow yourself to be carried away by artists,” says Carien Bloem, manager of the AfriForum Theatre.
According to World Theatre Day this day is a celebration of people who already realize the value and importance of theater as an art form. It is also a wake-up call to governments, politicians and institutions that do not yet recognize its value in people’s lives, or are not yet aware of the potential economic growth that can be stimulated by this.
AfriForum Theatre’s story is unique. The theater came into being during the national lockdown of the Covid-19 pandemic and at this time it was a lifeline for many artists and theater technicians.
“It was possible to open the theater at a time when so many opportunities were inaccessible, precisely because people always have a need for connection,” says Carien.
The Afriforum Theater has already attracted more than 5,000 people. (Photo: Provided)
In the milieu of a theater, connections look different for everyone. “Theatre creates a space where one can switch off from the outside world and creates a shared experience, something to talk about,” reads a statement by the AfriForum Theatre.
The theater landscape has changed dramatically since 1961. Nowadays, theaters can connect with larger audiences through social media and find new ways to reach people.
Although theaters are now reaching out to other organizations in innovative ways, holding hands, thinking about theater and the way in which the most precious stories are told, the core of theater is enduring. “However, what has remained the same is that theaters are still a home for the arts.”
- Visit AfriForum Theatre’s website to learn more about productions and events that will soon be on the AfriForum Theatre’s stages.
