From love locks to tree hugs: Hull Street Theatre’s revival in full swing

EFFORTS to revamp, revive, and breathe new life into the historic Hull Street Theatre in Kimberley are well under way. Once a hub for cultural performances, this national heritage site has suffered decades of neglect, vandalism, and abandonment. However, a collective vision by Kimberley artists, local businesses, and community members is restoring this iconic venue to its former glory.

The theatre, which celebrates its 130th anniversary next year, has a storied history that began as a mining school for Wits University. Thabo Motlhabi, spokesperson for the Hull Street Theatre Company, provided insight into the building’s rich past.

“This building was originally used as a mining school for Wits University. When the school of mining later moved to Johannesburg, it was used by De Beers as offices until the centenary of the City of Kimberley. The City of Johannesburg donated $10,000 to the City of Kimberley to refurbish the offices for cultural purposes. The Kimberley Repertoire and other theatre groups applied to the council to rent the theatre, and the council granted the lease for cultural purposes," explained Motlhabi.

He added that during its heyday, the Kimberley Repertoire successfully ran the theatre, even overcoming segregation-era challenges, until the early 1990s. Unfortunately, crime and neglect led to its abandonment.

“Illegal occupants such as prostitutes and vagrants later occupied the building. Though the illegal occupants were removed by the Community Policing Forum and local businesses, the theatre was later left in an extremely vandalised state. Steel and Pipes, along with Sealing Solutions, resorted to putting safety precautions such as barbed wires and a gate onto the premises, as some thieves allegedly stored stolen goods under the wooden floors of the theatre,” said Motlhabi.

Despite its turbulent history, the Hull Street Theatre is now poised to serve Kimberley’s artistic community once again. According to Motlhabi, the venue will provide a platform for local artists and serve as an alternative to the Northern Cape Theatre for smaller, intimate performances.

“The Northern Cape theatre seats 640 people and the stage is huge. When one hosts intimate, small performances, there are no premises available. The Hull Street Theatre can also serve as an alternative stage where the youth can develop their skills for the bigger stages.”

Motlhabi said the revamp includes exciting plans to engage the community.

“A lecture on the history of the building will be delivered by Steve Landerstedt on January 15, 2025. As the revamp is ongoing, we will host productions outside. That way, we will involve the community and the youth in the happenings of the theatre,” Motlhabi revealed.

“Part of our long-term vision for the theatre is to establish a ‘Walk of Fame’ where we can honour established artists who came from the city. In Hollywood they use stars, but we are envisioning using diamonds. On the wall, we want to make a ‘Love Lock Wall’ where you can buy a lock with your spouse. We need to make these premises an interesting attraction for the community and youngsters. We have no attractive spaces for youngsters where they can enjoy themselves in a sober and relaxing environment. This theatre will fill that need,” he added.

Interactive and Creative Initiatives

The Hull Street Theatre’s recent Facebook posts have highlighted interactive events and initiatives designed to bring Kimberley residents closer to the venue and its revitalisation efforts. This past weekend, visitors were invited to connect with nature by choosing and interacting with trees in the theatre yard. Promoted as "the best-dressed trees in town," these trees were humorously described as “huggable, Instagramable, Facebookable, TikTok-able, and X-able.”

The activities extended beyond tree-hugging, with live performances, stalls, and games adding to the lively atmosphere. The theatre is also becoming a space of love and romance with the recent introduction of the "Love Lock Wall".

Inspired by the tradition of attaching padlocks to symbolise love, which is said to have originated in Serbia during World War I, the Hull Street Theatre has created Kimberley’s own Love Lock Wall. The initiative is part of the broader vision of transforming the theatre into a cultural precinct.

A promotional poster for the Love Lock Wall invites couples to “lock their love” on the wall as a symbolic gesture. “This is the location of love that people will dream about. Come pick a special lock with your lover, engrave your names and a special symbol or message on it, for what could be a better way of creating an eternal memory than on a public installation of romance and love?” the poster reads.

Calls for Preservation and Community Support

While the Hull Street Theatre’s future looks promising, Motlhabi has emphasised the urgent need for greater protection of Kimberley’s historic sites.

“We want to know at which office we should report the vandalism of monuments and historic buildings. Community members are in the dark about where they can report such matters. When we wanted to clean this yard, we were almost prohibited as we were told that we must first get a permit as the land is protected. However, when monuments are being vandalised, no action is taken. We cannot have laws that are being ignored … The people in those offices need to act harshly against those who refuse to uphold the law,” he said.

The Hull Street Theatre’s revival promises not only to restore a cultural landmark but also to create an engaging and inspiring space for Kimberley’s artists, youth, and residents. With continued efforts to involve the community, this historic venue is set to become a beacon of creativity and unity.