Feb 13, 2010
On 12th February 2010 Isango Portobello's new home in Cape Town, THE FUGARD THEATRE officially opened with a gala performance of THE MAGIC FLUTE - IMPEMPE YOMLINGO attended by South African Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, Isango Portobello Patron Trevor Manuel, actors Alan Rickman and Janet Suzman and renowned playwright Athol Fugard, for whom the theatre is named. Below is the full text of the speech given following the opening performance by Eric Abraham, producer of the Isango Portobello company and head of Portobello Pictures.
"Deputy State President Motlanthe, Cabinet Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen , Friends of the Fugard. I’m Eric Abraham
What a show. What theatre. What history. What a company. I’m very proud of them.
This extraordinary group of people have had an incredible and inspiring journey. From Khayelitsha to London’s West End twice – and Olivier Award – to standing ovations in Dublin, Tokyo, Paris and elsewhere. All out of a church hall in Athlone and steel containers. Well now your homeless days are over.
Welcome to your new home at The Fugard.
Mark Dornford-May our artistic director or “the Boss” as they call him – you have earned your place in theatre history. In just six months you have driven the creation of a theatre of which Cape Town and South Africa can be proud. Your commitment to this country and its culture has few parallels. We wish you and Pauline well with that other birth which will take place shortly.
Now over half a century ago - in 1958 - ten years into the nightmare that was apartheid - a young playwright wrote, performed in and directed one of the first plays about black people in the townships. It was called NO-GOOD FRIDAY and was set in the late Sophiatown in Johannesburg. A young reporter on The Rand Daily Mail wrote a review which hailed it as revelatory.
That playwright is Athol Fugard who is, to use his own phrase, “ a man of magnitude” of South African and indeed of world theatre. He has inspired me and I am proud he allowed us to name this theatre after him. That critic is Pat Williams who went on to write South Africa’s legendary jazz musical KING KONG.
I am so pleased you are both with us today. We honour you.
This theatre celebrates the spirit of two areas obliterated by the apartheid regime. District 6 and Sophiatown. They were vibrant, anarchic communities of creative and personal freedom whose very existence challenged the apartheid ideology. This evening we honour their memory.
With all this talk of birth I would like to honour an act of mid-wifery without which we would not be here this evening. Four years ago one of South Africa’s greatest actresses, and very dear friend, Janet Suzman first introduced me to Mark here in Cape Town. In the intervening time she has been a staunch supporter. Janet baie dankie – thank you for flying out from London specially to be here. And we can’t wait to see you on this stage soon. Please regard The Fugard as your home in Cape Town too.
Now there is another important supporter who deserves mention. I would like pay tribute to my wife Sigrid Rausing who is Swedish and who continues that great Swedish tradition of support and generosity towards the oppressed and underprivileged. Sweden was one of the most important allies in the fight against apartheid.
Sigrid has made a very generous donation to the Isango Portobello Company and we have decided to mark this by naming the rehearsal studio upstairs The Sigrid Rausing Studio. Sigrid, Ambassador Tejler, the Company and THE FUGARD will forever be grateful and proud of its Swedish connection.
We have had many messages of support. From Ronald Harwood – Sea Point born Academy award-winning screenwriter and South African actor Sir Anthony Sher. From Sir Simon Rattle conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic, British Billy Elliot director Stephen Daldry. Actor Alan Rickman and his wife Rima - thank you both for showing your support by flying in from London to be with us tonight.
Deputy State President we are greatly honoured and grateful for your presence.
People of Cape Town – from Khayelitsha to Sea Point - who care about theatre and those yet to discover the power it has to make us think and feel please take this theatre to your hearts and open your minds and pockets to make it the success it deserves to be.
Ladies and gentlemen thank you for coming and enjoy the rest of he evening. Please spread the word that the Fugard is here. Long live The Fugard."
Eric Abraham
Cape Town, February 12th, 2010