Labia Theatre

About

The Labia Theatre is an independent movie house located in 68 Orange Street, Gardens, Cape Town,^[1] South Africa. The original theatre, which features four screens of a, 176 seater, 95 seater, 67 seater, and an intimate 66 seater.

In addition, the cinema has a cosy coffee bar which offers home-made delicacies, a chocolate bar serving sweets, chocolates and popcorn, an outside terrace and a fully licenced bar. The Labia is the only cinema where you can relax, sip a drink from the bar and watch a movie. Try Labia on Orange’s cocktail slush puppies. For peace of mind, there is security and patrolled parking outside the theatre.

There are very affordable movie and meal offers every night of the week except Sundays which includes pasta at Societi Bistro, fish & chips at Ocean Basket, pizza at Diva Café Ristorante, and meals at Kauia. With these meals priced for two meal including movie tickets of around R80 - R90 you will be forgiven for thinking there is a mistake.

While traditional commercial cinemas struggle to survive in an internet enabled world the Labia Theatre has grown in strenth with significant support from the local community and also attracts international tourists.^[2]

The People

Projectionist Ridwaan Fridie. A film projectionist in the Labia Theatre in Cape Town, South Africa for the past 24 years.^[3] With an interview on his life and times at the theatre by local film producer Philip Bloom.

The theatre is run and managed by dedicated and long serving people who have invested more than just time and money in the Labia Theatre. The team includes Ludi Kraus, Erica Schofield, Ridwaan Friddie, and others.

History

The Labia Theatre is the oldest independent art-repertory cinema in South Africa.The original building was an Italian Embassy ballroom opened by Princess Labia in May 1949 as a theatre for the staging of live performance arts. It is said that the earliest private projected film screenings were held there from the 1970's although this is unconfirmed.

For the past 37 years, it has been operating as a cinema on the alternative circuit appealing mainly to the more discerning viewer who enjoys its quality product and the charm of its old-world ambience.

When Ludi Kraus took over in September 1989, the Labia began its incarnation as the home of cult, classic and art movies, with a smattering of box office hits. Hey, they pay the rent. Much of the original authentic features of the old building has been maintained, such as the ticket booth, sweets counter, and even the seats.

Changes to the theatre, since its inception, have included three more cinemas, a bar and food area, and a terrace. For several years, there was an annex location with two modern screens in the Lifestyle Centre at 50 Kloof Street, but this location was closed in 2013.

Crowd Funding

July 2014 the Labia Theatre started a crowd funding campaign Help The Labia Go Digital.^[4] This initiative was run by Ludi Kraus and Erica Schofield who turned to fans, filmmakers and friends to help transition to digital and upgrade the theatre. Specifically for digital projectors, new facilities, an upgraded foyer and the ability to continue to treat her valued patrons in the quaint authentic style.

In support of the cause a local film producer, James Taylor of Switch Films, specially made a short film title I love the Labia.^[5]

Critically the Labia Theatre faced a choice to go digital or go dark. This was due to the international switch from celluloid to digital projectors and the short supply and increasing costs of such traditional material meant that increasingly less movies would be available to screen. Digital projectors are also expensive

The initiative was a great success with 885 individuals raising over R550,000 although well short of the R2,000,000 target needed for all the renovations needed. It did however rejuvenate the Labia Theatre with digital projectors in all the cinemas. It also helped gain significant new support and increasing visitor numbers ensuring its sustained future success.

References

Coordinates: 33°55′48″S 18°24′44″E / 33.93000°S 18.41222°E / -33.93000; 18.41222