From the immense heights of ‘Anima’ to the power of ‘Prime Colours’ to the hilarity of ‘The Complete Works of Shakespeare’ and the revivification of ‘Lammie Beukes’, 2014 has marked a diverse and thrilling year in Namibian theatre and the best of the best began with comedy.
Opening this year’s comedic calendar was Slick the Dick who presented a slam dunk solo show at the Warehouse Theatre in February. Up and at it in the same month, Blessing Mbonambi’s ‘The Baremask Experience’ was equally entertaining in the hilarious ‘The Teachers’ and the dark ‘Journey into the Other Side of the Night’.
Debuting in March and astounding audiences to silence before a celebratory social media storm, First Rain Dance Theatre’s African ballet choreographed by Haymich Olivier and Tuli Shityuwete stole the season in an epic tale of a fallen angel taught to fly by a tribe at the edge of a mountain.
Featuring the dance talents of Trixie Munyama, Grant Edem, Odile Müller, Elago Akwaake, Justina Andreas, Angelo Jobs, Kaylynn Oosthuizen, Kandi Shihengo, Oliver Stoffels, Faizel Browny and Vetunyona Uariye, ‘Anima’ remains the theatrical highlight of 2014.
In April, young Victoria Naholo brought us ‘There’s Just No Pleasing Bob Daniels’. Clever and comedic, ‘Bob Daniels’ earned its applause and Namibian Theatre and Film Award nominations for its cast which included Morne Botha, Hazel Hinda and Anati Hans.
Also amazing in April was ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’, a musical adaptation by Sandy Rudd which featured the design talents of Katie Muller, Helen Harris and John Pindala who fashioned a wonderfully dynamic stage made of cardboard boxes.
Lara-Lyn Ahrens and Lize Ehlers’ presentation of the intense and intimate ‘April Fools’ at the Theatre School was something a lot more frightening and feminine while Aldo Behrens’ ‘Variations on Blue Bench’ was interminable and Onesmus Upindi’s ‘1 Hour Special’, an experimental mash-up of Song Night, Spoken Word and Free Your Mind debuted with conceptual promise but was never heard of again.
This comedic month also saw Loyiso Gola, Nik Rabinowitz and Zimbabwe’s Carl Joshua regale local audiences while David Kau got deported.
In May, Sascha Olivier Sampson and Moon Goddess Dance Studio returned to Shimmy for Shelter at Windhoek Gymnasium to benefit the SPCA. The show also took its first trip to the coast, all in aid of animals.
May also saw the young take the mickey out of not so at Free Your Mind’s Lazarus Jacobs Roast where The Dogg, Playshis, Weezil, Neville Basson, Courage, Joh White, Sibongile Tshabalala, Taap the Guy, Fernando and Slick the Dick burnt the veteran comedian to a crisp and earned rave reviews.
David Mamet’s ‘Race’ directed by Keamogetsi Molapong and Aldo Behrens and starring David Ndjavera, Morne Botha, Senga Brockerhoff and Yanna Smith was also staged in May for the more sober and the serious.
In June, the University of Namibia presented ‘The Bald Soprano’ which earned actor Ashwyn Mberi a Best Newcomer nod at the Namibian Theatre and Film Awards.
As for August, it saw the return of Severius Majiedt’s ‘Lammie Beukes’ which earned solid reviews for first time director Senga Brockerhoff and eponymous actress Hazel Hinda. Playshis the Poet’s one man show ‘Press Play’ ended off August and featured poetic fusions of dance, drama and music.
The announcement of the erection of the new theatre in Khomasdal was another highlight of this month and remains a boon for the decentralisation of the arts courtesy of the Committed Artists of Namibia as well as the Khomas Community Culture Centre Development Trust.
In September we saw strength from the gay community in a fresh and fearless play by Zindri Swartz. ‘Prime Colours’ premiered to thunderous applause at the National Theatre of Namibia and won Swartz Best Newcomer Director at the NTFAs. Aldo Behren’s ‘Genadendal’ also debuted this month and told the tale of the Angel of Death thwarted by the power of music.
October saw the rise of the second gay play. ‘Revere Them Those Men’ by Hafeni Muzanami which was as subversive and surprising.
Duchess Distinctive and Justin Hango’s three tiered ‘Illusions of Grandeur’ was an entertaining night out and Sandy Rudd’s ‘The Complete Works of Shakespeare’ premiered perfect under a gorgeous Windhoek sky buoyed by stunning comedic performances by Nelago Shilongoh, Ndino Ndilula and Helouis Goraseb.
Frederick Philander’s staging of Samuel Beckett’s ‘Waiting for Godot’ was another highlight of this month in celebration of the Committed Artists of Namibia’s 35th anniversary. The play starred Felicity Celento and Philander himself.
November was the month of Free Your Mind’s Celebrity Shakedown and Slick for President while Da-mâi Dance Ensemble presented ‘In the Beginning’. November also saw veteran theatre and film actor David Ndjavera launch ‘Plays for Stage and Schools,’ a collection of six local plays.
As for Spoken Word, it ticked along nicely and introduced some snap worthy newcomers throughout the year including but not limited to Nathan Wilkinson, the mighty Esperance and Vanessa.
The Namibian theatre fraternity celebrated and awarded their best at the bi-annual Namibian Theatre and Film Awards held in October which marked a prolific and proud two years on the boards.
– @marth__vader on Twitter or martha@namibian.com.na
