Name a Seat at the National Theatre

If the light of a play hits the National Theatre of Namibia seats just right, you may catch a glint of gold.

By day, the curious flickers better reveal their purpose. Etched carefully into the gold plaques which decorate a scattering of seats from which locals have long watched the world reflected in song, dance and drama are names such as Jackson Kaujeua Snr, Aldo Behrens and Desiree Mentor.

The latter is the National Theatre of Namibia’s (NTN) public relations officer who on a warm Tuesday afternoon opens the theatre’s famed red backstage door to help me hunt for gold.

In the dim theatre interior, we gaily shout out the names of those who have secured an engraving on one of the NTN’s 470 seats and each is instantly blessed with the gift that comes with remembrance.

This, after all, is part of the NTN’s ‘Name-A-Seat’ project’s purpose.

“This space has the world passing through it,” says Mentor. “When people sit down and see the names on the seats, they actually wonder about the person. They remember them, appreciate them or remember a show.”

The plaques are named for theatremakers, patrons of the arts, members of the public and even corporates who bought seats to show their support of the creative industries.

In its first incarnation almost 20 years ago, the seats were sold as a fundraising initiative at a steep price aimed at corporates. Seats named by NamWater, Nedbank and the City of Windhoek are easy enough to find and mark a particular time in the theatre’s life.

Two or so years ago, another call-out to name a national theatre seat reduced the cost and targeted those with an interest or passion for the place.

The current call does the same and with the Covid-19 pandemic having devastated theatres all over the globe, the idea feels bittersweet.

In times like these, naming a seat is a way to hold space for when we can safely return to the full and vibrant theatre programmes of before the pandemic. It is a way to lend support to the beloved boards, to be there while we are not there and it is an opportunity to honour those we have lost in the scourge.

As Mentor and I scour the seats, she admits that amid the engravings, which include Kobi Alexander and his family, there are some names sorely missing. The late David Ndjavera, who devoted his life to the theatre and the arts, for one, and many more.

The project is not quite what it could be.

Some names are faded and worn and there are many seats just waiting to shine the name of a theatremaker, theatre lover or patron of the arts.

“The seat can be named for anybody but obviously we would love to have as many people who are Namibian theatremakers as possible so we can continue building our relationships, the theatre becomes yours too and we are able to tell our stories jointly,” says Mentor.

“As theatregoers, we meet in the foyer,” she says. “It’s a place to network but also to come out and have these little conversations about the shows and the people we see named on the plaques. How beautiful if those names are Namibian theatremakers? What a wonderful way to immortalise and commemorate them.”

The last thing Mentor would like us to appreciate is that naming a seat does not mean it is yours for every show.

“You know how people are,” she says with a laugh. “You name it but it doesn’t become exclusively yours. It would be nice but you still need to reserve it when there are productions. We don’t keep it for you.”

Mentor’s seat is a neat blue perch near the aisle, not too far from the exit.

She was gifted a plaque when then general manager Werner Thaniseb extended the honour to the national theatre’s staff.

“Mine is R09,” says Mentor, who chose her seat strategically for piano performances.

“From here,” she says. “I can see their hands.”

To name a seat at the National Theatre of Namibia, contact pro@ntn.org.na.

– martha@namibian.com.na; Martha Mukaiwa on Twitter and Instagram; marthamukaiwa.com

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