For nearly 30 years, Daphne Kuhn has steered Theatre on the Square into becoming one of Sandton’s most enduring cultural landmarks.

While the theatre is widely known for its evening productions, it is the quieter, more intimate Friday lunchtime concerts that have become a defining fixture.

For more than two decades, the theatre has hosted weekly classical music performances at 13:00, creating space for audiences to pause their busy schedules for an hour of live music.

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“We present every week some of our finest musicians. Many of them are from the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, usually in the genre of classical music.”

The concerts feature a range of instrumentalists, from pianists and cellists to flautists, offering both established performers and emerging talents a platform to showcase their work.

According to Kuhn, opportunities for classical musicians to perform regularly are limited, which makes the Friday series particularly significant.

She believes Theatre on the Square may be the only theatre in South Africa to sustain a regular, weekly classical lunch-hour concert for so long.

The most recent concert, held on February 27, featured internationally acclaimed flautist Cobus du Toit alongside pianist Eugene Joubert. The duo presented a flute-and-piano programme that reflected the series’ commitment to high-calibre musicianship in an intimate setting.

Du Toit, a South African-born flautist with an international career spanning South Africa, Europe, Asia and the United States, is known for his expressive style and refined technique. Joubert, a sought-after collaborative pianist, has performed widely both locally and abroad, and currently serves as head of piano studies at St Mary’s School in Waverley.

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The format of the Friday concerts remains simple but effective, with affordable tickets, an accessible time slot, and a carefully curated programme.

While the core audience tends to be older, Kuhn noted that school holidays often draw younger attendees. The theatre also prioritises creating opportunities for emerging musicians to gain professional stage experience.

Although classical music anchors the series, the theatre occasionally alternates genres to keep the offering fresh and engaging.

At its heart, the lunchtime concerts are about accessibility and continuity. In a fast-paced business district like Sandton, stepping into a theatre for an hour of live performance may seem like a luxury.

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