The Fugard Theatre opens on Friday, 12 February with a performance of Isango Portobello’s The Magic Flute – Impempe Yomlingo. The gala evening will be attended by South African and international theatre personalities, some travelling from overseas especially to show their support for Cape Town’s exciting new theatre addition.

Minister Trevor Manuel, patron of Isango Portobello, and Founding Producer, Eric Abraham, will host the evening while Athol Fugard himself will officially open the theatre. Actor Alan Rickman has been granted special permission by the producers of the latest Harry Potter film to fly to Cape Town to attend the opening night. Janet Suzman, who was instrumental in introducing the producer and director of this world-renowned company, will also join the company to celebrate the evening. Playwright and actor Winston Ntshona; Pat Williams, writer of one of South Africa's most successful musicals, King Kong; the directors of Handspring Puppet Company, Basil Jones and Adrian Kohler; as well as writer, Pumla Gobodo-Madizikela will be there. Actor Sean Taylor, soon to appear in the world premiere of Athol Fugard’s The Train Driver at the Fugard Theatre, and other South African theatre personalities including David Kramer; Janice Honeyman; Pieter-Dirk Uys; and Mike van Graan will also be among the first patrons of the new 270-seater theatre.

The company has also received messages of congratulations from famous friends, Sir Antony Sher; Sir Ian McKellan; Sir Simon Rattle; John Kani; and Director, Stephen Daldry all of whom are unable to attend the opening.

The gala evening will be a celebration of the major investment into the South African theatre and arts community. Not only is the new theatre the first permanent home of the internationally acclaimed Isango Portobello Theatre Company, whose cast members all come from the surrounding township areas, but also an investment into the upgrade of the City of Cape Town’s historic infrastructure.

On 11 February 1966, District Six was declared a 'whites-only' area under the Group Areas Act. On 11 February 2004, 38 years after the area was re-zoned and former president, Nelson Mandela handed the keys to the first returning residents. The opening of the new theatre on 12 February proclaims a further restoration of the area.

Isango Portobello’s Producer, Eric Abraham, has made a multi-million rand investment to renovate and transform the old Sacks Futeran Building, which used to be a textile warehouse, into a fully-equipped 270-seat theatre. Care has been taken to preserve this National Heritage Site, belonging to the District Six Museum, which includes a Gothic-style church hall. The new complex also includes dressing rooms; green rooms; and full staff facilities.

An investment of this nature is sure to influence the local economy of District Six positively, as the theatre attracts local audiences as well as international visitors to the area.

The opening season of the Fugard Theatre will see the Isango Portobello Company perform the Olivier Award-winning The Magic Flute – Impempe Yomlingo in repertoire with its internationally acclaimed production The Mysteries – Yiimimangaliso. The Fugard will then host the world première of Athol Fugard’s new play The Train Driver, to be directed by Athol himself, in March.

Tickets for the opening season at The Fugard can be booked by calling the box office on 021 461 4554 or visiting www.thefugard.com.