The Civic Theatre

RELATED LINKS: The Civic Theatre stages an impressive run British-born Bernard Jay, as the Johannesburg Civic Theatre's CEO, has overseen a major restructuring process. Read more SA Ballet Theatre takes centre stage When Bernard Jay, CEO of the Civic Theatre, asked what it would take to persuade Dirk Badenhorst, CEO of the South African Ballet Theatre (SABT) to move his company from Pretoria to Johannesburg, his simple answer was: "Build us two studios". Read more Up close and personal with the Civic Theatre A tour of the Johannesburg Civic Theatre shows two sides to the complex - the glamorous front of the theatre and the working space behind the scenes. Read more

Civic voted Best Theatre Complex for fifth time September 7, 2004 By Tabisa Mntengwana THE Johannesburg Civic Theatre has - for the fifth year running - won a people's choice award for the Best Theatre Complex. "Winning such an award is good for public recognition and we are delighted about it," says the theatre's chief executive officer Bernard Jay. The award was made by the publication "Leisure Options", based on a vote by their readers. According to Jay, the Johannesburg Civic Theatre complex has a host of facilities. It includes the three theatres: the main Nelson Mandela Theatre, which can accommodate more than 1 000 people and has facilities to stage major international productions; the Tesson Theatre; and the People's Theatre, where many youth theatre productions are staged. There are also dance studios and offices housing the South African Ballet Theatre company, rehearsal rooms, and the newly established art gallery The Premises. For visitors, there are theatre bars, private dining rooms, a shopping enclave for books, memorabilia and local crafts and several multi-purpose venues that can be used for meals, receptions, meetings and seminars. "The management works very hard to meet the needs of the people and the facilities here are for the use of the public," Jay says. He points out that the internationally recognised complex, in the sweep of Johannesburg's cultural arc, has been at the forefront of providing the public with world-class theatre for years. This award, according to Jay, also recognises the efforts of the theatre's staff. "It shows us that our employees are the best and we are very pleased to have them on board." Permission to use web site material Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as: Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency (www.joburg.org.za)"; If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original article on this website; The name of the article's author is acknowledged; The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill in this brief online form). Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 Print this Page E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za