Delta Park's Theatre Enters a New Chapter With The Whirlwind!

Photo Credit: The Whirlwind Theatre

The Whirlwind kicks off with its first show later this month!

Johannesburg, South Africa (09 March 2026) – If you live in Jozi, you know Delta Park. It’s a great spot to visit with the fam and four-leggeds over weekends, and is often frequented by picnickers, park-goers and cyclists.

What you might not know is that tucked inside the Delta Park Environmental Centre, there’s a proper theatre! With seats. And a stage. And shows lined up. It’s called The Whirlwind.

The theatre marks an exciting new chapter brought to life by Tabitha Hoy and Bridget van Oerle – two formidable women with decades of experience in entertainment and community engagement, who set out to find a space where local artists could perform and audiences could gather, especially after the blow the performance industry took when lockdown struck.

“After lockdown, many venues disappeared and many artists are still battling to find spaces in which to perform.” says Tabitha.

It sits within Delta Park, in Johannesburg’s northern suburbs, in what was once part of Klipfontein Farm, used for grazing cattle in the early 1900s. In the 1930s, the area was transformed into the Delta Sewage Disposal Works, which operated from 1934 until 1963, servicing the city’s expanding northern suburbs. When the facility closed, the buildings stood abandoned until conservationists stepped in.

Rather than demolish the structures, they envisioned something radically different. A centre dedicated to environmental learning!

By the late seventies, the site had been reborn as the Delta Environmental Centre, which is one of Johannesburg’s most respected environmental education facilities to this day. The surrounding park now hosts bird sanctuaries, walking trails, environmental programmes for thousands of learners, and over 200 recorded bird species.

“The Whirlwind Theatre is situated within the Delta Park Environmental Centre in their amazing 185 seat venue.” says Tabitha.

The Whirlwind is kicking off with laughs. Comedy in the Park runs on the third Saturday of every month, which brings well-known South African comedians for a night of stand-up in one of the most unexpected settings you can imagine.

Acoustic sessions will fill the first Saturday of each month with live music. Movie screenings are being explored. Comedian and chef Chris Forrest is also involved, running an on-site pop-up restaurant so guests can eat well before the show.

“The Whirlwind Theatre is centralised and brings well known artists as well as up-and-coming performers to the community at a lower cost than some of the larger productions. We also have discounted rates for pensioners and children so we aim to cater for all ages.” says Tabitha.

The idea is that there’s something for everyone – Tabitha says accessibility is an important part of why this theatre exists. And so is giving back.

“We are in talks with organisations about projects that need funding in the surrounding area. A portion of our takings will go to giving back where we can. We are also looking forward to hosting fundraisers and charity evenings.” says Tabitha.

The opening night is Saturday, 21 March 2026, with Comedy in the Park. The lineup features Chris Forrest, Mojak Lehoko, Nick Goliath, and Rae Du Plooy. If you’ve been looking for a reason to spend an evening in Delta Park after the sun goes down, this is a goodie!