BY NELIWE NGUBANE
MBABANE — The stage has become a classroom for more than 20 schools as the October International Theatre Festival kicks off with the Genesis Ekucaleni School of Creative Arts, giving young emaSwati an opportunity to sharpen their craft under the guidance of established African theatre practitioners.
The programme, which officially opened at the Mbabane Theatre Club yesterday, brings together learners and teachers for an intensive celebration of theatre, dance, poetry, creative writing and directing ahead of the main festival, which runs from October 1–3.
The initiative matters because it gives young performers access to professional mentorship while creating a platform where they can develop skills beyond the classroom and begin exploring careers in the creative industries.
Among the young participants are learners from Vulamasango High School, Swazi National High School and Ngomane Primary School, who earned their place after excelling in the Inyatsi Schools Arts Drama and Theatre Competition.
The festival has also attracted international expertise, with renowned Mozambican choreographer Alexandre Dos Santos leading dance masterclasses, while acclaimed South African actor Hamilton Dlamini conducts theatre training.
Dlamini’s sessions have focused on the fundamentals of acting, including listening, mental preparation, teamwork, dialogue and the ability to quickly transform into different characters.
The learners were challenged to step outside their comfort zones by portraying different characters, including emotionally demanding roles.
Dlamini also demonstrated techniques for producing emotions on stage, encouraging learners to draw from situations that have genuinely made them distressed when a character requires them to cry.
He emphasised the importance of responding quickly as performers, explaining that actors cannot always afford to wait for the perfect moment to find a character when opportunities arise.
Some of the learners had already gained cross-border exposure through their participation in the Igazi production hosted in Mbombela, South Africa, where they collaborated with South African actor Phindy “The Real Queen”.
The collaboration was facilitated through the Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture.
Speaking on behalf of Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Senator Pholile Shakantu, ETA Board Chairperson Penelope Mkhwanazi described the stage as more than simply a place of performance for the learners.
“The stage before us today may appear to be simply a place for performance. However, for these learners, it is much more than that. It is a classroom, a place of discovery, a platform for self-expression and, perhaps, the beginning of a lifelong calling,” said Mkhwanazi.
She encouraged the young artists to use their creativity to tell Eswatini’s stories and become cultural ambassadors beyond the country’s borders.
“Your experiences matter. Your voices matter. Your stories matter. Your dreams matter,” she said.
Mkhwanazi also praised Genesis Ekucaleni School of Creative Arts for investing in young artists through mentorship and practical training, noting that the creative sector requires more than recognising talent.
She said young people need guidance, skills and platforms to develop their abilities.
The festival’s programme extends beyond acting, with workshops in children’s theatre, creative writing and poetry, directing, dance and theatre taking place at venues including the American Corner Mbabane and Yini Loku.
The programme also seeks to expose learners to the many career paths within the creative sector, including writing, directing, choreography, production, costume design, lighting, sound, film, digital content and event production.
After the workshops, learners took to the stage to present their productions.
KaNgomane Primary School presented Tibi Tendlu, while another production explored the history of King Cetshwayo kaMpande, the Zulu king who led the Zulu forces during the Battle of Isandlwana in 1879.
The production used theatre to bring a significant chapter of southern African history to life, allowing learners to explore storytelling through performance.
For the three schools selected from the Inyatsi competition, the festival represents another step in their development, while for the wider group of learners, it offers an opportunity to learn directly from experienced practitioners.
As the October International Theatre Festival moves into its main programme, the Genesis Ekucaleni School of Creative Arts has set the tone by placing young talent, mentorship and African storytelling at the centre of the stage.
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