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SPOTLIGHT: Much anticipated THE ANTIQUE THEATRE & BAR opens its doors!
- 3 days ago
- 7 min read
Barbara Loots
The independent theatre industry is buzzing with excitement at the prospect of a new theatre set to fill the gap left by the much loved Alexander Bar & Theatre: THE ANTIQUE THEARE & BAR, situated at the top of Kloof Street, will open its welcoming doors on 23 July 2026!
THE ANTIQUE THEATRE & BAR (‘THE ANTIQUE’) is the brainchild of Adrian Collins, Nicholas Pauling and Andrew Roux. Collins and Pauling have in the past dreamt of opening a theatre together. So, when the antique shop at the top of Kloof Street became available, Collins rushed to convince Pauling that this was the right time to grab a prime spot and pursue that dream. Most of the planning took place at Mirepoix, the coffee shop and deli run by Collins. Enter Roux, who by some luck happened to be sipping a coffee in Mirepoix at an opportune moment when the other two convinced him to buy into this dream. Shop secured, dream set to become reality, these three (but a few months ago) took on the task of setting up a theatre. No small feat!
Many names were floated by family and friends, Theatre on Kloof, The Sickle Theatre, The Intimate, The Lightbulb (the very cute suggestion by Pauling’s daughters), but given that the space the theatre was set to occupy was the landmark antique shop on Kloof Street, homage to the space saw them settling on the name, THE ANTIQUE THEATRE & BAR. “We also hoped that it would save money,” Pauling jokes, "as the sign was already there".
The shop space was quickly gutted and divided into an intimate bar area and a theatre that can seat an audience of 40, with soundproofing, lighting rig, operator’s box and raked seating installed. One would expect nothing less of a trio that is firmly rooted in the independent theatre industry and knows that spaces that are fit-for-purpose in a permanent manner are scarce and in high demand.
The bar counter will be situated in a cozy corner. Collins explains that the bar area will have “an eclectic vintage kind of feel; an art deco, mid-century kind of vibe” to pay homage to the antique shop. A good bar is viewed as a key component to the success of any theatre enterprise, because a night out at the theatre is a social occasion after all, and it encourages people to meet up after a show and discuss what they saw, carrying the conversation beyond the stage… “and encourages them to spend money”, Pauling, ever the entrepreneur, reminds in jest.
Ultimately, the trio wants to create a space where the theatre community can gather and feel like they are stepping into a space that leaves the outside hustle and bustle at the door —a place where people can find what they need, whether that be inspiration, escapism, or just a bloody good time.
As to how these newly anointed theatre impresarios plan on running this new space, Roux explains that the bar portion will open on show days between 12 and 1pm —the website currently has it as opening at 12pm— but they will test this out as things develop. As there is only an old school curtain separating the bar and the theatre entrance, the bar will be closed as soon as a show starts and will be open again after the show until 11pm. If there are any members of the public sampling some tipple but not seeing a show, they will be ushered into a backyard garden area that will have seating available and will ensure that there is no disruption to the onstage productions.
Audiences will find Lubanzi wines stocked at the bar, along with a selection of beers and cocktails. For the cocktails, they’ve called on the advisory skills of Bar-technician (and former Tjing Tjing House barman), Aaron Robinson, to make sure that they cover all the classics on their menu: Martini, Negroni, Old Fashioned, Espresso Martini, and Paloma.
Collins explains that much like the Alex Bar, they are also playing with the idea of two entertainment slots a night, Tuesday to Saturday, with a theatre show around 7pm and music or stand-up offerings around 9pm. There’s the possibility that the late-night slot on Fridays may become a standard comic night with some late-night jazz planned for Thursdays. There are even long-term plans for the occasional Monday classic cinema night, which would be apt seeing as the very comfy seats they purchased and refurbished come from an old cinema in Ceres (which they procured via a guy in Worcester) –that is a story in itself and I encourage you to ask them to relay that tale while sipping on an Old Fashioned at the bar. They are adamant that theatre seating needs to be comfortable, so the cinema seats are a perfect fit. Pauling explains that they don’t want audiences to feel like they are sitting on top of each other with their knees around their necks even if it is an intimate theatre space.
As for show runs, the ideal is to go back to the traditional approach of plays having the option of proper longer runs, encouraging the use of fully conceptualized sets, and so giving independent theatre makers opportunity to flex their creative muscle. Roux reassures that they will keep the obstacle of installed sets in mind when they schedule the late-night entertainment.
It is because they want the overall theatre offering in this 40-seater to feel intentional that they called on the expertise of lighting and set designer, Kieran McGregor, to ensure that the rig and space layout allows for all the basic design elements to start with. They plan to build on that, expanding the design bells and whistles as time progresses —so I take it no haze machine as yet, but as these guys dream big, I’ll hold on to my hope that theatre haze will fill THE ANTIQUE one day still.
With THE ANTIQUE they want to host productions that take to their stage in an intentional manner. That attitude greatly appeals to me as a theatregoer: It helps justify the value of a theatre ticket if a patron walks into a space and realises that a show was intentionally styled and staged with a theatre space in mind. It also speaks to the ethos that independent theatre is a true profession, as opposed to a hobby, with deep running roots within this city. Understanding and affirming this status is important, as both the theatre creatives and theatre owners in an independent industry need to earn a living.
From the discussion it is clear that they are drawing heavily on the experience and lessons from the Alex Bar. They share that, indeed, the support and guidance they have received from Nicholas Spagnoletti and Edward van Kuik (the Alex Bar founders) have been invaluable. Those who frequented the Alex Bar will spot that THE ANTIQUE’s website and ticketing system are based on the style and system that the Alex Bar ran on. Roux adds that they are drawing on the MOUs and Artist Agreements that worked so well for the Alex Bar and customising those for their space. They also have a great respect for the manner in which Spagnoletti and Van Kuik ensured a level of quality in the curation of shows (with the aid of Jon Keevy), as reputation was ever linked and a door split was in play. Pauling explains that they will be taking a similar approach: Shows staged at THE ANTIQUE will be associated with them, even if not produced by them, so they will keep an eye on quality as it does impact the long term financial viability of the theatre.
Turning to the actual construction work bringing the theatre space to life, Roux points out the beautiful craftsmanship courtesy of Ross Jenkin, Cameron Richards and Danny Kamwendo. Jenkin, also a designer and architect, has definitely left his creative mark, with stunning hints to the Globe Theatre edged into the woodwork that dresses the soundproofing. And talking about the design, the guys are rather excited about the actual logo design by Bruno Morphet that sees a skull and a rose motif as the calling card for THE ANTIQUE… and yes, there will definitely be merch on offer!
Noting all the details that have gone into the planning and realisation of THE ANTIQUE, it is clear that details matter to this trio and they want a night at their theatre to carry a sense of occasion.
The most important details then being what’s on at THE ANTIQUE:
Wolf Biscuit, an off kilter indie dark comedy from the pen of Pierre Malherbe (who also directs this madcap adventure), is the first production to tread the boards from 24 to 31 July 2026, as THE ANTIQUE opens its doors. Andrew Roux and Brett Williams star in this absurdist two-hander. The play focusses on work colleagues trying to survive in a cut-throat industry and navigate their love/hate relationship. These intrepid characters will take you on a surreal journey through betrayal, deception, and different-sized coffee mugs. Malherbe’s vision toys with the fragility of uneasy companionship, balancing the mundane and the menacing, pulling the audience into a bizarre and unpredictable world for an experience that is as unsettling as it is hilarious. If you’ve ever put a shoe in a post-box, spilled beer on a Labrador, or placed a baguette in a car boot in Kraaifontein, then this is the life-altering show you’ve been waiting for. Wolf Biscuit carries an age restriction of 16. Tickets can be booked online at theantique.co.za, with tickets priced at R180.
Seun, is up next on 7 and 8 August 2026. It is an acclaimed, autobiographical Afrikaans play written by Dana Snyman and adapted for the stage by Johann Smith. Directed by Nico Scheepers and starring Wilhelm van der Walt, this is a raw, coming-of-age one-man play through which Snyman shares a part of his past he has never talked about before: His experiences in the 1980s. How does a boy become a man? A boy who can’t get a girl’s attention? A boy who isn’t good enough for the army? It confronts questions about masculinity, vulnerability and self-acceptance, and unfolds against the backdrop of a volatile South Africa, marked by P.W. Botha's reign, the Voëlvry music tour, AWB rallies, and mandatory military conscription. Seun carries an age restriction of 13. Tickets can be booked online at theantique.co.za, with tickets priced at R180.
Further details as THE ANTIQUE’s line-up will be announced soon. I would encourage you to sign up to their newsletter, so that you can stay up to date and get your hands on the hottest tickets in town as soon as they are released. See you at THE ANTIQUE!