Kallie Kriel, CEO of AfriForum
The COVID-19 pandemic has a negative impact on many areas. The arts and especially Afrikaans arts are also bearing the brunt. This is exacerbated by the fact that Afrikaans as public language suffered a setback as a result of traditionally Afrikaans universities that became anglicised.
We can either sit back and become despondent – or we can do something about it. AfriForum and the Solidarity Movement choose the second option .We will not become victims of history but will rather help to write a new future by establishing self-do institutions. In this way, our community can establish a lasting free, safe and prosperous future for ourselves, our descendants and the Afrikaans language and culture. Just like the Solidarity Movement’s new Sol-Tech campus offers a place where we can ensure that Afrikaans can pull its weight in terms of tertiary education, AfriForum decided to open a theatre where Afrikaans arts can flourish. In fact, we are leading Afrikaans arts away from the COVID-19 road of decline. The best time to start building is now – even if we are still in the deadly grasp of COVID-19.
AfriForum is therefore proud to announce that his newly established theatre, which is known as the AfriForum Teater, was opened at the venue once occupied by the Brooklyn Theatre. This 380-seater theatre is situated in the Greenlyn Village centre in Menlo Park. A new restaurant named PRONK has also been opened at the AfriForum Teater venue.
A wide range of Afrikaans arts, artists and community and school cultural events will in future be staged at the AfriForum Teater.
The theatre was officially opened to the public on 6 and 7 March 2021 with the popular Die storie van Afrikaanse musiek (English: The story of Afrikaans music) by Pieter Smit and Nagliedjies (English: Little night songs) by the composer/pianist Franco Prinsloo.
Bookings at the theatre can be made at teater@antiek.afriforum.co.za.
Visit the AfriForum Teater website at www.afriforumteater.co.za.