The details
From spearheading multiracial collaborations in defiance of Apartheid to putting on progressive work, the Baxter Theatre’s legacy is its stand out quality. The first interracial kiss ever on a South African stage happened in the Baxter’s first production of Miss Julie starring John Kani and Sandra Prinsloo in 1985.
As one of the major theatre venues in Cape Town, it continues this heritage with programming that prioritizes the production of new South African work that tackles social justice head on. This is evident in topical productions such as The Fall, which was presented by activist students, and Tshepang, by the Baxter’s CEO and artistic director Lara Foot. The Baxter's annual Zabalaza Theatre Festival develops theatre practitioners from in and around the Western Cape by providing them with performance platforms.
Located in Rondebosch, it is affiliated with the University of Cape Town and serves the city and its adjacent districts. Opened in August 1977, the Baxter has five theatres, two rehearsal spaces, a bar and a restaurant. It attracts over 500 000 patrons with about 2700 performances yearly making it one of the busiest theatres in Southern Africa.