Brian Astbury

[1] He worked closely with his wife Yvonne Bryceland and playwright Athol Fugard when they formed an independent non-racial theatre called The Space in May 1972 opening with the play Statements After an Arrest Under the Immorality Act.

[1] Based in an old workshop, the theatre was able to operate with a non-racial audience because a membership was required to watch the performances at the club.

[1] A recent documentary about the founding and the running of The Space Theatre highlighted his key role in creating South Africa's first non-racial, commercial arts venue during the apartheid regime.

[4] Other playwrights whose careers started at The Space, included Fatima Dike, Geraldine Aron and Paul Slabolepszy.

[1] The theatre helped to start a number of actors and directors careers that spanned both the South African and the international entertainment arenas and include names such as John Kani, Winston Ntshona, Bill Flynn, Richard E Grant, Pieter Dirk Uys and Barney Simon.