About Joburg Theatre
What is Joburg Theatre and who operates it?
Johannesburg’s Civic Theatre was built by the then city council in 1962, creating a high-profile landmark on the top of the Braamfontein hill. The building was given a magnificent face-lift in the late ’80s, turning it into one of the most technically proficient theatres in the southern hemisphere.
In the year 2000 – when theatres across the country were considered to be both creatively and financially moribund – the city council decided to corporatise the operating company of theatre, which is now a Municipal Entity of the City of Joburg.
The Johannesburg Civic Theatre (Pty) Ltd was given a Board of Directors, and Bernard Jay, a veteran UK born theatre producer and administrator who had relocated to South Africa in 1993, was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the company.
In July 2013 Xoliswa Nduneni Ngema, an experienced South African theatre practitioner, was appointed as Chief Executive Officer. Godfrey Katsana was appointed as chairman of the Board of Directors in March 2023.
Now in its 23rd year as the operating company, “the Civic” – which morphed into the more street-wise and accessible Joburg Theatre in 2009 – has become one of the acknowledged success stories of Joburg City’s corporatisation policy. The complex’ largest auditorium, re-named The Nelson Mandela Theatre, regularly sees over 75% of capacity audiences and remains open a minimum of fifty weeks in each year.
In the past decade, The Mandela at Joburg Theatre has hosted many hit shows, including William Kentridge’s acclaimed interpretation of Mozart’s THE MAGIC FLUTE and THE HEAD AND THE LOAD, the West End and Broadway musicals WEST SIDE STORY, CHICAGO, THE COLOR PURPLE and SPAMALOT and top-of-the-line global touring shows, such as LE GRAND CIRQUE, LORD OF THE DANCE and BRAZOUKA.
Joburg Theatre’s annual festive season pantomime productions, written and directed by Janice Honeyman, have become the most popular highlight of South Africa’s theatrical calendar.
Joburg Theatre is also the permanent home to the smaller Peoples Theatre and the tiny ‘black-box’ theatre known as space.com.
For a detailed history of our theatre, please visit www.joburgcitytheatres.com.
The Joburg Theatre complex is owned by the City of Joburg: visit www.joburg.org.za.
The theatre’s operating company, Joburg Theatre (SOC) Ltd, is a Municipal Entity of the City of Joburg.
The city’s Community Development sector retains political oversight of the operations of Joburg Theatre, Soweto Theatre and The Roodepoort City Theatre.
To read and/or download the company’s most recent Mid-Year Report and Annual Report, please visit www.joburgcitytheatres.com.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The following were elected to the Board of Directors at the AGM held on 1 March 2023:
Godfrey Katsana – Chairperson
Thapelo Chokobane
Bonga Kweyama
Delisiwe Mabena
Johanna Mapeko
Thembinkosi Mbeda
Ziyanda Mncanca
Ben Mothupi
Pamela Ndlovu
Orapeleng Ramagaga
Sbusiso Francisco Xaba
Vukani Magubane (ACFO)
Xoliswa Nduneni-Ngema (CEO)