The purpose of a theatre is to serve as a space for artistic expression, cultural enrichment, and community connection. It is a hub where stories are told, emotions are shared, and diverse perspectives come together to inspire, educate, and entertain audiences. The Baxter Resident Theatre exists to serve as a dynamic and inclusive platform for the creation, development, and presentation of compelling theatrical works. Its purpose is rooted in fostering artistic excellence, nurturing talent, and building meaningful connections within the community.
Since its inception, the Baxter has been at the forefront of creating and nurturing cutting-edge theatre and performing arts. The establishment of the Fires Burning Company, a resident company of five theatre-makers, reaffirms this commitment. They are provided with the space and mentorship to conceptualise, develop, and stage new, relevant, professional local performance art.
This initiative cultivates well-rounded theatre-makers whose talent is honed to produce quality “home-grown” theatre and provides comprehensive training in all aspects of theatre-making, as well as honing skills that go beyond the stage. The Baxter’s resident company not only contributes to the growth of the arts community but also focuses on creating theatre works that balance artistic excellence with progressive subject matters, delving into relevant South African social issues. This approach aims to bring exceptional original South African work to the stage that fearlessly represents South African society.
What remains on track is that throughout each year, the resident company members receive training in all the aspects of theatre, namely acting, directing, choreography, voice, movement, dance, stage management, publicity, marketing, fundraising, lighting, and design. Mentors and teachers will be employed to give classes in all aspects of theatre-making.
To date, four productions have had multiple weeks of performances, including: OTHELLO (32 performances), TROUBLE IN MIND (14 performances), NEIGHBOURHOOD (22 performances), and METAMORPHOSES (15 performances).
