WINDHOEK – A proposed N$40 million community theatre took a step closer to fruition on Friday when four individuals signed a Notarial Deed of Trust to become the legal trustees of the massive venture. The signed document will now be sent to the Master of the High Court for ratification.
According to Freddie Philander, the executive secretary of the community theatre project, to be known as the Khomas Community Cultural Centre, the venture is intended to serve the artistic communities of the entire nation particularly in light of the fact that the National Theatre of Namibia (NTN) is totally overstretched and has been struggling for years to carry out its main mission, which is the promotion of theatre on a national level on a consistent basis. “The proposed theatre could also serve as a satellite venue for NTN to rotate national productions, particularly from all regions in the country, and bring quality theatre to Namibians,” explained Philander. The next step in the process, according to Kevan McNamara, who is one of the trustees as well as the project’s architect, is to obtain an option on the land situated next to the Khomasdal Community Hall for the project. “We will then need to negotiate with the City of Windhoek to either lease or purchase the land through the assistance of donor funds,” said McNamara.
If the site is approved and the project secures the necessary funding it will incorporate a 300-seat theatre, shops and office space ideal for small businesses, theatre support buildings, apartments to accommodate visiting theatre practitioners and perhaps most importantly, a library to serve the six schools and community in the area. Presently there are only two commercial theatres in the capital, namely, the NTN and The Play House Theatre. The two venues are tasked with serving the cultural needs of the estimated 500 000 residents of the capital, not to mention the multitude of artists around the country. The ill-equipped College of the Arts, the Katutura Community Arts Centre, accommodated in a dilapidated building, and the University of Namibia each have a student theatre for educational purposes. “There is no community theatre venue available for any of the community groups, which are forced to pay expensive rental fees to make use of the existing theatres,” lamented Philander.
By Edgar Brandt