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Sanlam Auditorium

Sanlam Auditorium

Entrance to the Auditorium today
 
                                                             
 
  • The architects who initially designed the Student Centre also designed the homonymous Sanlam Auditorium at the University of Johannesburg (formerly the Rand Afrikaans University). Just as there, the hall of the Student Centre was designed to be an auditorium with an open wooden stage, in the same style as the Conservatory Hall. 
  • In 1975 it was announced that a regional theatre will be built in Potchefstroom. It was to be constructed where the Goetz-Fleischack Museum and the Library and Museum Building stand today in Sol Plaatjie Street. The Student Centre was already under construction when the promised 80% of the building costs of the regional theatre, which was promised by the government, fell through. 
  • After the regional theatre was shelved, Johan van Rensburg, well-known music director of the Alabama Student Company, proposed that the plans of the auditorium be changed to build a theatre, as it looks today. This decision was taken at such a late stage that a complete theatre with side stages, a technical tower where lighting and décor could be stored and proper dressing-rooms could not be incorporated due to a lack of space. 
  • Installation costs of only the stage curtain amounted to R68 000, whereas initially only R47 000 was budgeted. 

The Auditorium under construction - 1977 

 

The Auditorium after completion in 1980

 

  • The Alabama Student Company, the revue company of the University, which in those years were famous nation-wide, had the honour to present the first concert in the Auditorium. It was on 13 August 1979. 

Alabama Student Company

 

  • The Auditorium was in use for more than a year when there was decided to change the name. Wapad reported on 9 October 1981: 

The Council of the PU decided during its recent meeting that the Auditorium of the Hennie Bingle Student Centre will henceforth be known as the Sanlam Auditorium.
The Council decided to give acknowledgement to Sanlam for their sustained support over the past few years. Sanlam already has a long association with the PU and numerous buildings and improvements on the University campus were made possible with the help of Sanlam. 

  • Initially Sanlam only gave R10 000, but in the early 2000s they donated about R1,2 million for repairs and upgrades to the Auditorium. 
  • The climax of the official inauguration of the Student Centre was on 1 March 1980 with a concert by the National Symphony Orchestra of the SABC. During the same week top notch sports programmes took place in the Sports Centre. A meeting of alumni took place during which the founding of Bond van Oud-Pukke (an association of alumni) took place. 

The performance of the SABC Symphonic Orchestra, under the baton of Anton Hartman, was one of the highlights during the inauguration of the Student Centre,
which took place in 1 March 1980.
Prof Pieter de Villiers was the soloist, and he performed the third piano concert of Beethoven, as he also did in 1954 with the inauguration of the Totius Hall.    

 

  • The Auditorium quickly became popular for many functions and concerts. In 1981, the first full year it was in use, 64 productions/functions took place with an estimated chair occupancy of ±45 600. 
  • After thirteen years of use the Auditorium urgently needed upgrading. That took place in 1992. The lighting computer, that had irreparable defects, was replaced, as well as much-needed air-conditioning in the sound and lighting room. 
  • The same year roof leaks caused much concern. In a letter to describe the situation, the manager of the Auditorium, Peet Ryke, wrote that during one occasion rain water leaked into a room almost exclusively filled with electric cables. Water also dripped on guests in the Auditorium!
  • The impressive roof painting of Judith Mason in the foyer of the Auditorium, that depicts the New Jerusalem, needed restoration in 1998. The painting of 11 X 4,5 meter was a gift to the Centre from the architect, Mr Bannie Britz, and is described by Prof John Botha as one of the master art pieces on the campus. Wapad described the painting in 1979: 

The central theme of the painting is based on the ground plan of the city of Jerusalem with a garland of mountains around that draws the eyes inward to the heights. Around the central theme are two complimentary themes, i.e.: a smaller ground plan of Jerusalem with bloody footprints inside. Numerous angel faces can be distinguished, whereas snakes, trees of life and scenes from paradise are also depicted. 

  • Two major refurbishments were done over the years. After the donation of Sanlam, the ceiling in the foyer and the layout behind the stage, dressing rooms and facilities for artists were upgraded. 
  • In 2013 the chairs were replaced for the first time in the 34 years of its existence, whilst the carpets were replaced for the second time. The Auditorium initially had more than a thousand seats, but lost a few due to the size of the new chairs. There are now 998 seats in the Auditorium. The costs for the replacement of the chairs and carpets amounted to R3,5 million. ​