Hillbrow Theatre Johannesburg is one of Johannesburg’s most historically significant and socially important arts and community venues — a 368-seat theatre at 14 Kapteijn Street, Hillbrow, Johannesburg, that is both a functioning performance space and the home of the Hillbrow Theatre Project: a transformative after-school arts and community development programme established in 1999 under the Outreach Foundation, serving children and youth from Johannesburg’s inner-city neighbourhoods.

Described as “one of the city’s oldest theatre complexes”, the Hillbrow Theatre Johannesburg sits at the heart of one of South Africa’s most densely populated and culturally vibrant urban neighbourhoods — providing a dedicated, equipped performance space for community theatre, dance, drama education, music events, film screenings, and the annual Inner City High Schools Drama Festival that has become a cornerstone event on Johannesburg’s performing arts calendar.

The Hillbrow Theatre Project — Arts as Community Development

The Hillbrow Theatre Project was established in 1999 under the Outreach Foundation, with a mission to use the performing arts as a vehicle for education, development, and community building in inner-city Johannesburg:

Core programmes:

• After-school programme — drama, voice, and public speaking training for school-going children and youth who reside in or attend schools in Hillbrow and Johannesburg’s inner city
• Dance programme — in partnership with Johannesburg Ballet, Vuyani Dance Theatre, and independent dance teachers and choreographers
• Artist-in-Schools programme — in partnership with the Market Theatre Laboratory and Rand Merchant Bank

Annual events:

• Inner City High Schools Drama Festival — running since 2005 (celebrated its 10th edition in 2014), providing a platform for new works created by high school learners across Johannesburg’s inner city
• Hey Hillbrow! Let’s Dlala Festivals — annual community celebration and arts festival hosted at the theatre

The Hillbrow Theatre Project represents one of the most sustained and impactful examples of arts-based community development in South Africa — using theatre, dance, and storytelling as tools for both education and social cohesion in a neighbourhood that is often defined only by its challenges.

The Hillbrow Theatre Community Centre

The Hillbrow Theatre Community Centre — home to the Hillbrow Theatre Project — is a multi-space arts facility designed for professional and community performing arts:

The Hillbrow Theatre (Main Auditorium)

• 368 seats — a substantial mid-sized theatre capacity
• Built in the 1970s
• Fully equipped: film projector, professional sound system, and complete lighting rig
• Suitable for: theatre productions, dance performances, film screenings, concerts, community events, graduation ceremonies, school drama festivals

Five Practice Spaces

• Dedicated rehearsal and practice rooms for ongoing community arts programmes
• Available for bookings by arts organisations, theatre groups, and community programmes

Dance Studio

• Dedicated dance training space — supporting the Hillbrow Theatre Project’s dance programme partnerships with Johannesburg Ballet and Vuyani Dance Theatre

Venue Hire

The Hillbrow Theatre Johannesburg’s spaces are available for hire for performances, events, community functions, and arts productions:

• Main theatre: 368 seats with full technical infrastructure (film projector, sound, lighting)
• Practice spaces: Available for rehearsals, workshops, and meetings
• Dance studio: Available for training and performance preparation

To book: Contact John Dlamini on 076 144 0794 or the Outreach office on 011 720 7011. Email: gerardb@mweb.co.za

Neighbourhood & Context

The Hillbrow Theatre Johannesburg operates in the heart of Hillbrow — one of Johannesburg’s most densely populated and historically significant inner-city neighbourhoods:

• The theatre building serves as a community anchor and cultural landmark in the neighbourhood
• The front area of the theatre is famously used by local children as an informal skatepark — a symbol of the venue’s open, community-facing character
• Home to the Hey Hillbrow! Let’s Dlala Festivals — inner-city arts celebrations
• Surrounded by the rich urban cultural life of Johannesburg’s inner city

Location & Accessibility

• Address: 14 Kapteijn Street, Hillbrow, Johannesburg, Gauteng
• Phone (bookings): 076 144 0794 (John Dlamini) | 011 720 7011 (Outreach office)
• Website: hillbrowtheatre.co.za
• Located in the heart of Hillbrow — Johannesburg inner city

Practical Details

• Established: 1999 (Hillbrow Theatre Project)
• Foundation: Outreach Foundation
• Main theatre: 368 seats (built 1970s; film projector, sound, lighting)
• Additional spaces: 5 practice spaces + dance studio
• Partners: Johannesburg Ballet, Vuyani Dance Theatre, Market Theatre Laboratory, Rand Merchant Bank
• Annual events: Inner City High Schools Drama Festival (since 2005), Hey Hillbrow! Let’s Dlala Festival
• Best for: Community theatre productions, school drama festivals, dance performances, film screenings, inner-city arts events, community ceremonies, rehearsal space hire, arts development events

For venue hire enquiries and bookings, visit the official Hillbrow Theatre website or contact John Dlamini on 076 144 0794.

Also explore other popular theatre and arts venues in Johannesburg’s inner city or browse Gauteng performing arts venues on Event Venues SA.