The Little Theatre Unisa () is a classical drama theater in the heart of the

central business district A central business district (CBD) is the commercial and business centre of a city. It contains commercial space and offices, and in larger cities will often be described as a financial district. Geographically, it often coincides with the "city ...

Pretoria Pretoria () is South Africa's administrative capital, serving as the seat of the Executive (government), executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassies to South Africa. Pretoria straddles the Apies River and extends ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

. The theatre was designed by the South African architect Norman Eaton. It seats 292 and hosts a variety of performances by

University of South Africa The University of South Africa (UNISA), known colloquially as Unisa, is the largest university system in South Africa by enrollment. It attracts a third of all higher education students in South Africa. Through various colleges and affiliates, U ...

(UNISA) students as well as other events.

History

In March 1940, Mrs. Norah McCullough approached the architect Norman Eaton to design a center for a children's arts center in the South African capital. Construction began in 1941. Disagreements over the function and dimensions of the building delayed completion until 1946. During this time, Mr. Le Roux Smith Le Roux was appointed director of the new center in 1943, and he proceeded to develop a comprehensive theatre development program. In 1957, the theatre was placed under the jurisdiction of the Teacher Training College in Pretoria. Due to a lack of funds and other political issues, completion awaited 1961. That year, the finished building was officially opened by a Dr. Jordaan, deacon of the College, to whom the theatre was handed over and put into use under the name Little Theatre/Arts Center. In 1993, Maree & Els Architects were approved to plan a renovation, which was completed in August 1994. In 1995, UNISA became the Theatre's owner. It was declared a provincial heritage site in 2004 and renamed the Little Theatre Unisa. Further interior renovation was conducted under the guidance of the South African Heritage Resources Agency.

Sources

* Eaton, Norman
"Ontstaan van die Kleinteater." ''Pretoriana'', no. 69/70, Aug 1972, Bl. 15, 16
www.artefacts.co.za. URL accessed 27 Junie 2014.
Little Theatre: History.
''UNISA''. URL accessed 27 June 2014.

References

External links

Unisa Little Theatre: Home
www.unisa.ac.za. URL accessed 27 June 2014. {{coord missing, South Africa University of South Africa Theatres in South Africa Culture of the City of Tshwane