By Frederick Philander
WINDHOEK
Two commissioned and four other contemporary Namibian plays form part of the first Bank Windhoek Summer Festival that was on Tuesday officially launched in the capital.
In addition the varied programme features many visual art exhibitions, dance shows, opera performances, choir concerts and music shows.
The exciting event was officially launched with an excerpt of the play, ‘Katutura ’59’, and singing by the UNAM choir.
“We expect every Namibian to attend the Bank Windhoek Summer Festival as part of our drive to promote local art and culture like never before.
Hence the fact that we encourage the whole nation to support the creative efforts of local arts featured in the programme,” said chief festival coordinator Aldo Behrens at the occasion.
Marlize Horn, senior marketing manager of Bank Windhoek, welcomed the efforts by all Namibian artists taking part in the festival.
“We would particularly like to mention the fact that like in the past two commissioned stage works will be on offer as part of our efforts to encourage local theatre writing,” said Horn, who did not mention the amount of money paid for the works.
The two commissioned plays are ‘Comrade, Head of State’, by Vickson Hangula and ‘Sunset in the South’ by Joseph Molapong. Both plays are to be performed at the Warehouse Theatre.
From Belgium an old theatre friend of Namibia, Jo Decaluwe, brings a two-person Dutch play titled, ‘Ik Kus je in Gedachten-Een overspelige liefde in brieven’ to be performed at the Bank Windhoek Theatre School.
Committed Artists of Namibia will present four timeless and updated plays on the Namibian situation over the next four months at the Boiler Theatre at the KACA as part of the Bank Windhoek Summer Festival.
For opera lovers the NTN will present La Traviata by Guiseppi Verdi on 7 and 8 September, while ace art photographer Sigi Kolbe will present a photographic exhibition, ‘Portraits of local celebrities from 16 to 28 October’ at the National Art Gallery.
More than 4,000 people are expected to attend the festival this year.