Maynardville Park

Maynardville Park is a spectacular green wooded area that has earned a reputation as one of the best-loved outdoor theatre venues. It offers its patrons both a beautiful park and lake for pre-show picnics and drinks, as well as a unique wooded 700-seater theatre setting. Cape Town’s annual Shakespeare under the Stars festival is held here.

Maynard’s Villa was the home of financier James Maynard from 1836 until his death in 1874. After it was damaged by fire it was rebuilt by Maynard’s nephew, William Farmer. It remained as a family home until Farmer’s daughter, Enid Bernard, died in 1949. The house was then sold to the municipality which demolished it but preserved the grounds as a public park.

Many trees in the park are a legacy of a once fine Victorian garden that was established at a time when collecting exotic trees was fashionable amongst the elite of Cape Town. The Maynard/Farmer family employed a horticulturist from Kew Gardens who was commissioned to landscape the garden in the style of the day. Its vast healthy lawns are perfect for laying down a blanket and relaxing. Maynardville has also become known for its open-air movie screenings

Cnr of Wolfe Street & Piers Road, Wynberg