Victory Theatre Restaurant

It has several of the country’s biggest and best museums and it has Soweto – South Africa’s biggest and best known township. Greater Johannesburg took centre stage in the fight against apartheid. Still barely 120 years old, the city (iGoli, Jozi or Joeys to its residents) was the scene of the greatest gold rush in history.

Yet, most Johannesburgers and Sowetans believe, their cities are all too often overlooked by visitors who come to South Africa for the stunning scenery, beaches, wildlife and the justly famous attractions of Cape Town. They want to see visitors spend more time in Johannesburg, exploring its many attractions.

An unappreciated jewel

One such typically passionate Johannesburger is Anne Power, general manager of the Victory Theatre in Houghton Estate just to the east of the city centre. “Johannesburg is the jewel in South Africa’s crown,” says Anne. “But it’s a jewel that often gets overlooked. We’re going to change that.”

The Victory Theatre, one of the oldest in Johannesburg, was recently renovated at vast expense. Seating 450 in comfort, the plush complex includes an upmarket restaurant, a pizza terrace and jazz bar. It is today the home of Africa Umoja, one of the country’s best loved musicals and one of its most successful cultural exports. Described as “the Cats” of South Africa, Africa Umoja has toured in some 30 countries, everywhere being hailed by critics and fans who all get carried away by this exuberant celebration in song and dance of “the spirit of togetherness”. But since mid-2007 Africa Umoja – or simply Umoja - has called the Victory home and, predicts Anne, will run there for the next 20 years.

Joe Theron, producer of Africa Umoja and owner of the Victory Theatre, says it was while the show was being successfully staged in London’s West End that the idea was born: “Why should people go to London to see Umoja? We have the perfect theatre for the show in Johannesburg.”

All-round African fun

Like Anne, Joe is a dedicated salesman for iGoli: “Johannesburg is undiscovered,” he says. “There is so much to see and do here, and you are 100% sure that the weather is going to be good.”

Anne and Joe both believe that catching a performance of Umoja should be on every visitor’s itinerary. Umoja is a smash-hit jol of a show; one that is about South Africa’s history and music and giving audiences a rollicking, foot-stomping good time. Because it’s staged at the Victory, says Anne, visitors to South Africa can get a lot more than just a good show. A night at the Victory means an all-round African outing of fun and fine dining. The restaurant menu, for instance, includes dishes such as Moroccan lamb, Congo beef and Ghanaian chicken. Plus a wide variety of African and more familiar vegetables. (And the theatre is extremely secure, with off-street underground parking.)

Feisty Anne, who is well known to most South Africans from her appearances in film, TV and radio over almost 30 years, has recently started working with a range of organisations and businesses who share her - and Joe’s – dream of turning the world spotlight on Johannesburg and Soweto.

“We’re very excited to be a part of TEP,” says Anne. “The Victory Theatre is part of the Soweto Cluster. Of course we’re not in Soweto but, as TEP said, we are an integral part of Joburg culture. The idea is that we won’t just market the Victory and Umoja in isolation but market them as part of a broader experience. We can achieve so much more working together.”