A Gilded Affair
In the heart of Durban, two architectural treasures stand as reminders of a city once dressed for grandeur. Completed in 1910, the Edwardian splendour of Durban City Hall meets the theatrical romance of the Playhouse, whose origins stretch back to the glamorous cinemas of the 1920s and 1930s. Together, they offer a beautiful setting for a celebration of timeless elegance.
I've always been drawn to buildings that have stories of their own. There is something wonderful about walking into a room and imagining all the people who have passed through it before you, the performances they watched, the celebrations they attended and the memories they took home. You cannot manufacture that sense of history, no matter how much thought goes into the styling.
For me, the Playhouse holds a particularly special place. Some of my earliest memories of theatre began here, performing in professional productions as a child. Years later, attending a gala in the Alhambra Room, I imagined returning to create something of my own within those walls.
It is rather lovely to return to somewhere you knew as a child and see it through entirely different eyes. The things that once seemed enormous still feel impressive, but your appreciation of them changes. You begin to notice the architecture, the craftsmanship and the extraordinary effort that went into creating spaces intended to make people stop and look.
That is what makes a historic setting such an interesting starting point for an editorial. The building is not simply a backdrop; it brings its own personality. The challenge is to introduce something new without losing sight of what made the place special in the first instance.
A photographic production also gives us permission to explore a place differently, to pay attention to the details that people might pass every day without noticing, and to see something familiar in a new light.
A Gilded Affair is the realisation of that wish. An editorial celebration of old-world glamour, enduring romance and the extraordinary beauty of places that carry our stories through generations.
Contributors
- Bridal Attire
- Jeannelle L'Amour Bridal
- Creative Direction & Production
- Albizia Road
- Florals
- Simply Bliss
- Groom's Attire
- Armitage Outfitters
- Hair & Makeup
- Volenti Laurnetina
- Jewellery
- Vernon White Jewellery
- Location
- Durban City Hall
- Location
- The Durban Playhouse
- Photography
- Maresha Lee Photography