In 1957 local attorney, Bertie Stern, Chairman of the South Peninsula Dramatic Society purchased the land that now houses the Masque Theatre. Not by any means as it now stands, but rather as a totally derelict building with no roof and four walls that was previously a bowling alley! With the help of friends, the construction began and finally when the building was finished, the struggle with the powers-that-be for permission to operate a theatre in a residential area , especially as Bertie insisted it was multi-racial in what was then a non-multi-racial society, would take another two years. Every possible obstacle was used to stop Bertie opening a theatre in which all races were welcome… persistence, however, eventually won the day, and the 10th January 1959 saw the grand opening of The Masque Theatre. Bertie made the inaugural speech and emphasized that the Masque Theatre Club, as it was called, intended to combine the best players of all races from both amateur and professional theatre who were interested in the creation of a group with a permanent repertoire.
In October 1997 disaster struck and the Masque Theatre was gutted by fire. Celia Musikanth, acting Chairperson of the Masque Management Board, was not prepared to let this be the end of the Masque Theatre. The task ahead to get the theatre up and running again was onerous but the community soon rallied, sub-committees were formed and worked long and hard to ensure that the Masque remained alive. Many donations were regularly made - small, medium and large but the most phenomenal and generous donation came from the late Joan St. Leger Lindbergh who simply said I am in for a million!!
And so what Bertie started in 1959 as a community theatre continues thanks to the overwhelming generosity of Joan and the incredible support (both financial and other) of so many wonderful people!
Bertie personally ran the theatre until his death in 1993. Subsequently, his estate created the Masque Theatre Trust to own the property, but responsibility of administration and operating was to be undertaken by the Stern Masque Theatre Association. The members of the dramatic societies currently represented on the committee elect this non-profit, voluntary body to office.
It is now a first-class venue, seating 174, able to host live shows (musicals, dramas, dancing, etc.), seminars, presentations, film shows, and so on. Facilities and equipment include dressing rooms, excellent lighting and sound equipment.
The Lindbergh Arts Foundation is not confined to the Muizenberg venue and we strive to be a part of the bigger arts world in South Africa. We now continue the legacy that Joan left in keeping the link she created with the Masque Theatre.
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