EARLIER this year Durban North welcomed its first ever theatre, the Milkwood Theatre, situated within the grounds of Danville Park Girls’ High School.

The 293-seater theatre, which is wheelchair accessible, has already seen a number of productions delight audiences while also offering young performers within the area a platform to showcase their talents.

It is hoped the theatre will become a hub for creativity, connection, and culture within the community.

Simone Hawker, Danville’s public relations and marketing officer, said she hopes the space will inspire young performers and the community alike.

“It’s an exciting new chapter in the cultural life of our community with the opening of the Milkwood Theatre. The name does have significance for the school as the original milkwood tree planted within our grounds was planted by former principal, Miss Hogg, in the early 1980s. It still thrives at the centre of the school’s quad. The milkwood tree is an iconic symbol deeply embedded in Danville’s history, and so the theatre pays tribute to a legacy of growth and resilience. The milkwood tree is a recurring symbol throughout the school grounds, even as a daily gathering place where learners sit beneath its shade at break time,” she explained.

Learners from Danville featured in the theatre’s first production, Fame: The Musical, performing alongside peers from neighbouring schools, including Northwood School, DHS and Glenwood Boys’ High School.

“The Milkwood Theatre isn’t reserved for school use alone. It’s a shared space, open to local and national talent alike. It also recently hosted Shrek: The Musical, which was presented by the Young Performers’ Project (YPP). This theatre is about more than entertainment; it’s about community and cultural enrichment as well as youth empowerment.

“The theatre offers a long-awaited opportunity for learners and the wider community to enjoy high-quality, live performances without having to travel too far. It’s for our Durban North community and neighbouring areas to ‘grow an appetite’ for live theatre and to watch live theatre in a ‘state of the art’ setting with safety at the cornerstone of this holistic theatrical experience,” Hawker said.

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