THE art world is currently facing unprecedented challenges, and institutions like the National Theatre of Namibia (NTN) are hard at work finding innovative ways to keep the spirit of theatre alive.
The NTN recently announced open-call applications for theatre makers to submit their artistic works for the 2021/22 season, calling on creatively dynamic works from storytellers, writers, directors, choreographers, performers, designers and interdisciplinary artists.
Lavinia Kapewasha, NTN’s production coordinator, said works should be innovative and stand out.
“Powerful works that bring refreshing narratives from different walks of life.”
She said submissions should have a critical voice that reflects current issues faced in the world and in Namibia. All selected submissions will be produced by the NTN and form part of the line-up from August 2021 to July 2022.
Categories include: New theatre makers programme, newcomer theatre makers, writers, directors, performers; the outreach programme which deals with community and applied theatre; the co-production programme for emerging and established theatre makers and artists, which will be funded in cooperation with an external producer.
The main programme application is for experienced and professional creatives, while the live art programme is looking for experimental and performative digital works by up-and-coming artists as well as professionals.
Kapewasha says for the Namibian theatre sector to survive the Covid-19 pandemic, creatives have to look at topics “creatively and innovatively”.
“We are all in a situation that we’ve never dealt with before. All of us are in the same boat,” she says. “We don’t know the parameters working within a pandemic,” she says, noting the guidelines and rules provided by institutions such as the government and the World Health Organisation.
She says the NTN will look at ways to engage artists while nurturing and supporting their work and simultaneously striving to curb the spread of Covid-19 and create awareness around the current climate.
“The NTN will do the research, assess and do the work to engage artists and keep on creating work for Namibians to see.”
Playwright, director and theatre blogger Donald Matthys fears the theatre industry will suffer greatly in the aftermath of Covid-19.
“Theatre is about engagement and collaboration and with the current restrictions in place, many artists, especially freelance artists, are suffering. Writers can’t work with directors, directors can’t work with actors and so on,” he says.
Matthys says social distancing measures won’t allow for a full house, which will not be profitable for theatres.
“This virus may haunt our very small industry for many years.”
He believes radio dramas are a suitable alternative for theatre plays as it can provide work for writers, directors and actors during this time.
“We can’t use the platform we are used to, so why don’t we become innovative and work towards one goal? The National Arts Council, Department of Arts and Culture and the private sector needs to work with theatre makers to keep doing what we do.”
He believes online debates are futile and that “the industry needs to talk less and do more”.
– JonathanSasha on social media.
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