Masque Theatre

Description

The Masque Theatre, home to four Independent Dramatic Societies, and also presenting various professional shows, is located in Muizenberg, Cape Town. It started with humble beginnings in 1957 when the Chairman of the South Peninsula Dramatic Society, Bertie Stern, purchased the property that now houses the Masque Theatre as a derelict building with no roof and four walls. With the help of friends and the community, construction began and the theatre was finally opened on 10 January 1959.

The theatre has faced much adversity in its years. There was difficulty in obtaining permission to operate a theatre in a residential area, especially as the Masque was always declared to be a multiracial venue in what was then a non-multiracial society. Secondly, it faced a fire in 1997 which destroyed a lot of the venue, and it took the help of the community to build it back to the homely place it is today.

Today, the Masque Theatre is still a community-driven venue, hosting live shows including musicals, drama, dance, seminars, presentations, film shows, and more.

Facilities

• Seating 169 people and 2 wheelchairs • Dressing rooms • Excellent lighting and sound equipment • Costumes and props