From ballerinas dancing their hearts out to magic shows and one-woman plays, the National Theatre of Namibia (NTN) went all out with their 25th celebrations this month.
The festivities come to an end tomorrow night, with their birthday extravaganza featuring the Last Band Standing crew. Here’s a preview of some of the shows that went down:
‘Delights of the Ballet’ shone the light on the College of the Arts and Cape Town City Ballet Company ballerinas and danseurs who stunned with performances powerful enough to leave audiences dazed and breathless. Perky tutus and leaping legs were the norm of the day, but clearly the young ones set themselves apart from their counterparts.
The NTN brought poetry, comedy, song and sunshine to the theatre and if you haven’t been a part of this wonderful experience, tomorrow is the last chance to be a part of the merrymaking at the NTN Backstage for N$100.
Here’s what the theatre heavyweights had to say about the NTN…
Performing on that huge stage for the first time.
Not only the NTN but the arts in general is educational, entertaining and cathartic. If we want to be an emotionally healthy nation we should be flocking to shows.
That NTN will be in a position to serve the whole nation and not mostly Windhoek as is the case now. Unfortunately this is due to budgetary constraints. So I hope the corporate world will join hands with NTN to make this a reality.
A show called ‘Chicago Blues Show’. It was a beautiful blues show with the Wikaphonica Orchestra. And because I got to sing solo pieces in it!
People always say all theatres are haunted. Especially ones as old as this. One day I was carrying a box of props into the theatre. The door leading to the stage was closed and before I could shout out to someone for help, the door just slowly swung open. And there was nobody there. I left that box right there and went back to my office.
I admire so many! Lize Ehlers because she is a great vocalist. But also for her professionalism and dedication. I think Junelle Mbonambi-Stroh is one of the best acting talents I’ve seen in this country in ages. Playshis The Poet has revolutionised poetry. I am also in awe of Odile Muller as an actress and dancer and Tulimelila Shituwete makes me want to conquer my body.
I’ve had so many actually. The first time I attended the NTN was in 2006 when I did a play. I was still a student at the time, doing theatre. It was my first ever theatre play. My most memorable one would be when we did Athol Fugard’s play ‘Good Friday’ in 2009. It was an amazing opportunity and experience.
I wish they could pay artists a lot of money, because we are the ones putting on work. We are still at the bottom of the food chain. There are also no in-house directors and that’s how theatres around the world operate. They would do a lot with in-house creative input. The entire month was a beautiful thing. If they can stop their culture of making it a festival and rather turn it into a regular thing, it would have been great. This month everyone was catered for. I also think they should do collaborations with other theatres as well.
In the contemporary era, I would say people like Jackson Kaujeua, Tate Kwela and others. They are the people who paved the way for us and created critical arts.
There are quite a lot but some include: ‘State Witness’ directed by Agatha Christie, an English dramatist and thriller writer. In 1980, I played the leading role of the play ‘Siener in die Suburb’ when the NTN was still SWAPAC and I sang in operas at the NTN, including alongside the Rossini Opera, among others. Other memorable performances include those with the Mascato Youth Choir, ‘Shibole’ with Randall Wicomb and last year, I participated in the play ‘Jacob Marengo’.
Quite a lot! Ena Venter from the Mascato Youth Choir, Fanie Dorfling the Cota Youth Choir, Bonnie Pereka from the Unam Choir, David Ndjavera and Joseph Molapong.
