A short walk back from the beachfront, on Link Street, a curving concrete facade marks Camps Bay’s cultural anchor. Theatre on the Bay is an intimate proscenium theatre seating around 250, and it has been staging work here since December 1988.
For anyone staying in Camps Bay it serves a specific and useful purpose: it is the plan that does not depend on the weather. When the South Easter is howling and the beach is unusable, this is where the evening goes.
History
The theatre was founded by Pieter Toerien, the impresario often described as the elder statesman of South African commercial theatre. He bought the dilapidated former Phoenix Theatre and converted it, opening in December 1988 with the musical comedy Nunsense.
In the decades since it has hosted South African premieres, West End and Broadway transfers, and a long list of local careers that started on its stage. Named boxes in the auditorium honour figures from that history, including the actors Bill Flynn and Moira Lister.
What gets staged
The programme is deliberately broad: drama, comedy, farce, one person shows, musicals, cabaret and dance. It leans crowd pleasing rather than experimental, which suits its audience and its size.
The intimacy is the selling point. At around 250 seats there is no bad seat in the house, and the connection between performer and audience is much closer than at a large city venue.
Booking
Tickets are sold through Webtickets, either online or in person at the box office from an hour before the performance on show days. The theatre advises against buying through third party resale sites.
Evening performances typically begin at 7.30pm or 8pm depending on the production, with Saturday matinees at 3pm. Popular runs sell out, particularly over the December and January holiday period, so book ahead rather than hoping for returns.
Eating before the show
There is a pre theatre dining venue on site, SideDish, serving food and wine before performances. Alternatively the full Camps Bay strip is a few minutes away on foot, so an early dinner on the beachfront followed by a short walk to the theatre works well.
Practical notes
- Roughly ten minutes by car from the city centre, and walkable from anywhere in central Camps Bay
- Street parking nearby, busier on performance nights
- Around 250 seats, so sightlines are good throughout
- A private VIP room is available for hire
Programming changes through the year, so check the current season before planning an evening around a specific production.
