If you havent heard and more especially if haven't been here,hows about I take you on a journey where diffirent cultures from theatre,food,historical venues and events meet. from your market theatre, to your marifitzgerlad square to baseline to sophiatown african resturant and kippies chill place to zarra book shop and graffity sites of this historical ground, and for those of you who know it then let me give you more insight of this historical ground Called Newtown
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NEWTOWN ON THE MAP,johannesburg
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| this image is taken outside sophiatown |
Newtown forms the heart of the city’s regeneration and reinvention of itself. Newtown is a fairly large area that lies sandwiched between the railway lines to the north, the M2 highway in the south and bounded in the east and west by West Street and Quinn Street respectively.
What makes Newtown so accessible is the Nelson Mandela Bridge, which links Braamfontein to Newtown, is able to carry some 3000 cars an hour and forms the new gateway into the city from the north. Newtown is now a mixed-use area with a vibrant and unique character, particularly if you take its cultural facilities into account. Newtown is home to the renowned Market Theatre, which played such an important role in South African theatre during the apartheid era, committed as it was to non-racial theatre right from 1974, where a run-down Edwardian market hall was converted into a cultural arena that provided a platform for some of the country’s best actors and playwrights.
What makes Newtown so accessible is the Nelson Mandela Bridge, which links Braamfontein to Newtown, is able to carry some 3000 cars an hour and forms the new gateway into the city from the north. Newtown is now a mixed-use area with a vibrant and unique character, particularly if you take its cultural facilities into account. Newtown is home to the renowned Market Theatre, which played such an important role in South African theatre during the apartheid era, committed as it was to non-racial theatre right from 1974, where a run-down Edwardian market hall was converted into a cultural arena that provided a platform for some of the country’s best actors and playwrights.
Newtown Cultural Precinct, Johannesburg
Today the complex is home to three theatres and two art galleries, and on Saturday mornings a flea market continues at the theatre. Kippies, located in the former Songwriters’ Club in Newtown, is named after the legendary saxophonist Kippie Moeketsi and serves as a venue to live jazz as it has for years, despite its closure for two years.
Newtown Cultural Precinct, Johannesburg
quite an intriging informative read.do you think Newtown is well advertised locally by the south african tourism department?
ReplyDeleteLovely piece on Newtown. Lovely indeed.
ReplyDeleteJust by looking reading the text surrounded by the background makes you feel like you right in Newtown,, what a great piece on this infused town of culture and retro chic. really enjoyed it. looking forward to more.
ReplyDeleteZinhle Kunene.
reading this blog just made me to love newtown more than i did before, new town it the place to be!!!
ReplyDeleteHi guys thank you so much for the comments and im looking forward to sharing more with you. Ramaranka yes,Newtown has been well advertised by the South African Tourism Department, if you visit their website you'll see how they have given you insight and information about newtown what to do there,when what event is taking place and where it is taking place,also just to let know that one of Gauteng Tourism Department's Offices is based in newtown,where you get more insight,maps,brochures,newsletters,etc of this cultural precint.
ReplyDeletethis small part of the CBD surely has a lot to offer yet i pass it everyday with a taxi guess am more intimidated by it because it seems too arty for me,i would have to understand all forms of art to be able to experince newtwon could i be wrong?
ReplyDeleteyour blog just made me aware of areas which i ddnt know ,now i wish to visit newtown to explore more on things you mentioned.you just became more factual to what u researsed about, keep on doing it.i like how you structured your blog.
ReplyDelete