BY PHUMZILE NDLOVU
MBABANE– Theatre lovers and creatives are in for an exciting October as the October International Theatre Festival prepares to bring a major celebration of live theatre to Eswatini, including a series of free masterclasses aimed at empowering local artists and other creatives.
The festival, scheduled for 1–3 October 2026, will host the masterclasses across five venues: American Corner, Alliance Française, the Candlelight Room at Eswatini Theatre Club, the Eswatini Theatre Club Auditorium and Yini Loku Gallery.
The workshops will be facilitated by trained and experienced theatre practitioners from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Mozambique and Botswana, giving local creatives an opportunity to learn directly from professionals from across the region.
The programme will cover various areas of theatre practice and is specifically designed to equip theatre artists, writers, women in the arts and other creatives with practical knowledge, professional guidance and valuable industry skills.
Festival Coordinator Nothando Mhlanga confirmed that participation in the masterclasses will be completely free.
“These masterclasses form an important part of the October International Theatre Festival programme. We introduced them to ensure that local theatre artists, writers and women in the arts can access valuable information and learn directly from experienced experts,” said Mhlanga.
Registration for the free theatre masterclasses will open on 25 August 2026 and will close once the required number of participants has been reached for each workshop.
Spaces will be strictly limited to 40 participants per masterclass, per day, making early registration essential. Five workshops will run simultaneously each day, with participants allowed to register for only one class in their field of interest per day.
Festival Director and Curator Larry Mhlanga said the three-day workshop programme is expected to benefit more than 750 creatives across the five participating venues.
The festival leadership has encouraged theatre practitioners and other interested creatives to follow the October International Theatre Festival Facebook page for registration announcements, facilitator profiles, workshop topics and programme updates.
Members of the public are also encouraged to follow the Eswatini Theatre Club page, as the club serves as the festival’s main host and venue partner and will support activities throughout the three-day event.
However, the masterclasses are only one part of what promises to be a packed festival programme.
The October International Theatre Festival will also stage 10 theatre productions over three days, bringing together local and international theatre practitioners and audiences for what organisers describe as a major celebration of live theatre in Eswatini.
With performances, workshops and industry engagement all forming part of the programme, the festival is expected to create a vibrant platform for entertainment, networking, learning and the development of Eswatini’s creative sector.
“This will be a true feast of theatre in Eswatini,” said Mhlanga.
With registration for the free masterclasses opening on 25 August, local creatives are being urged to keep an eye on the festival’s social media platforms and secure their places early before the limited spaces are filled.
(Courtesy Pics)
