Despite distressing rumours last year that Maynardville Park in Wynberg may not see the return of the Maynardville Open Air Theatre Festival, the classical theatre experience is back this summer after a three-year hiatus.
Described as a cornerstone of the Cape Town theatre calendar, the festival’s history dates back to 1956 when two women, Cecilia Sonnenberg and Rene Ahrenson, staged the first Shakespeare play at Maynardville.
In later years, Artscape Theatre became the custodian of the festival.
Under its custodianship, it grew into a fully-fledged arts festival that, in addition to a Shakespeare play, include performances by the Cape Town Opera, the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra and the Cape Town City Ballet. However, following the negative financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown, Artscape was forced to withdraw its funding of the project.
In stepped entertainment production company VR Theatrical, run by producers Jaco van Rensburg and Wessel Odendaal.
Van Rensburg says when he and his business partner, Odendaal, heard that there was talk of the festival not being revived, they were distraught.
“We were just like, we cannot believe that this is possible and that’s why we put up our hands and said, look, can we get involved and can we help?”
The two independent producers decided to go out on a limb and put their money where their mouth is. And we are not talking small change here.
Van Rensburg explains that while there is a pre-existing brick-paving stage structure in the park, it is not suitable for their uses.
“We did have to get stage decking and, to Artscape’s credit, they will assist us in supplying the decking that they had made for Maynardville over the years, which we’re very grateful for.
“So there is support and they are lending us a helping hand in getting it off the ground again this year.”
But that still leaves stage lighting equipment, sound equipment, public liability licences, and event security.
Van Rensburg says there will be six security guards on-site at all times as well as a paramedic. They have also arranged for car guards to watch over vehicles parked outside the park as well as at the Wynberg Library parking area.
Another huge expense has been having to secure generators and such to keep the show running when there is loadshedding.
For these two brave producers, it is a case of building it and (hoping and praying) they will come.
Van Rensburg says that, so far, in terms of ticket sales, it seems that they are on track and that they are going to make it work but they do need many more tickets to be sold. He adds, it’s not something that they are trying to make money off.
“It’s to try and do something and give back to the community and, after Covid, to reinvest in the arts. If we don’t create opportunities for artists who will? That’s the job of a producer and that’s what we do. And we really need the community’s buy-in because this for us is a community project.”
In addition to the seven-week line-up, an added drawcard this year will be the newly introduced evening food market that is open to all. From 17:00 in the public area of the park, locals and patrons alike can purchase and enjoy food and beverages in the park from a range of food trucks.
Van Rensburg says they got a lot of flack initially for doing this. He explains that the festival has the tradition of patrons bringing their own picnic and enjoying it before the show.
“Unfortunately, because of the food market, we can’t allow people to bring their own food anymore. But what we’ve done is we’ve made picnic baskets available at R180 a head for two people. We are making no profit on the picnic baskets in order to continue that tradition. But we do need to, of course, support our food suppliers. So we’ve taken a stance to invite people to come and buy a picnic with us or enjoy the food trucks and then enjoy the show,” says Van Rensburg, adding that there will be a range of affordable options available such as toasted sandwiches, plates of chips and snacks.
