Buy the Baxter a cup of coffee

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent nationwide lockdown, many businesses have been forced to shut down, and many organisations to halt their operations – including the Baxter Theatre, based at the University of Cape Town (UCT).

The Baxter Theatre is the most active theatre in South Africa, presenting more than 3 000 performances a year; however, it was forced to stop operations due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“I am sure you will agree that when this pandemic is over, the arts will play a significant role in finding meaning, healing, and bringing communities together in celebration of our humanity,” said Lara Foot, Baxter Theatre chief executive. “It is extremely difficult in these times to find a sizeable annual grant from any individual or business, and this brings me to our carefully considered drive to ensure our sustainability.”

“When this pandemic is over, the arts will play a significant role in finding meaning, healing, and bringing communities together.”

Foot is appealing to theatre lovers everywhere to “buy the Baxter a cup of coffee every month”, which means contributing R30 per month, or R360 per year, and to help it reach 30 000 contributors by sharing this initiative with friends and family.

“We need to accumulate 30 000 donors over the next year. This would amount to approximately R10 800 000 per year. I do not see our theatre operating functionally until early 2021. We have to raise R5 000 000 to get through this year. The Baxter’s very existence depends on this amount.”

Visit the Baxter Theatre website for more information or to make a contribution.