MBABANE: The October International Theatre Festival (OITF) has opened at the Mbabane Theatre Club with young Emaswati receiving training from established theatre practitioners from Eswatini, South Africa and Mozambique.
The festival’s opening phase, known as the Genesis Ekucaleni School of Creative Arts, has brought together learners and teachers from more than 20 schools for training in storytelling, movement, theatre and performance.
The programme is taking place at the Mbabane Theatre Club, with dance, theatre, creative writing, poetry and directing sessions forming part of the festival programme. 
Mozambican choreographer Alexandre Dos Santos is leading the dance training, while South African actor Hamilton Dlamini is conducting theatre masterclasses. Additional creative writing, poetry and directing workshops are being held at the American Corner Mbabane and Yini Loku.
Dlamini’s sessions have focused on skills including listening, mental preparation, teamwork and mastering dialogue.
Among the participating learners are winners from the Inyatsi Schools Theatre Competition, including students from Swazi National High School and Ngomane Primary.
The learners also recently took part in a cross border collaboration with Dlamini through the IGAZI play hosted in Mbombela by South African actor Phindy The Real Queen. The collaboration was facilitated through the Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture.
Dlamini has been using different characters and situations to help the young actors develop confidence and learn how to approach a variety of roles.
The students have also been taught how to respond quickly when a scene demands strong emotion. Dlamini encouraged them to draw from situations they have experienced or observed when developing a character.
The dance programme, led by Dos Santos, has also included practical exercises designed to develop the students’ understanding of stagecraft.
The festival forms part of a wider programme of performances and professional development activities scheduled through October 3.
Mkhwane to headline OITF showcase
South African actor and theatre practitioner Bheki Mkhwane is set to headline a major showcase at the October International Theatre Festival at the Mbabane Theatre Club.
The showcase is scheduled for 7pm on September 30 as performers, directors and other creatives from the region and beyond gather in Mbabane for the arts festival.
Mkhwane is regarded as one of Southern Africa’s established multidisciplinary arts practitioners, with a career spanning more than three decades.
Originally from KwaMashu township in KwaZulu Natal, he developed his craft in stage acting, physical theatre, mime and playwriting before making his television debut.
He became widely known for playing Samson Ndlovu in the Mzansi Magic drama series Isibaya. His television and film work has also included eHostela, Ifalakhe and Uzalo.
Beyond his acting work, Mkhwane has continued to work in theatre and mentor emerging creatives.
His appearance comes after the festival began with the Schools Festival at the Mbabane Theatre Club, where more than 20 schools participated alongside their teachers.
The schools programme is the first part of a wider series of performances and creative activities planned for the festival, which continues through October 3.
OITF workshops sharpen young performers
Theatre practitioners from South Africa have been sharing practical lessons with emerging Emaswati performers during workshops at the October International Theatre Festival.
South African director Moruti Dhlamini used a directing masterclass to explore the relationship between actors and directors, focusing on performance, presence, character development and the importance of trust during the creative process.
Dhlamini told participants that projection involves more than simply speaking loudly and requires performers to take responsibility for connecting with an audience.
“The audience does not have to find your voice, it is your responsibility to give them the voice,” he said.
He also encouraged actors to understand their characters fully and allow their physical responses to emerge naturally from the text.
“You must embody the character. Once you read the script with intention, you will know how to portray it at its best,” he said.
The workshop also examined the role of listening in performance. Dhlamini said actors need to listen to one another for authentic interactions to develop, with every line carrying the potential to affect the characters involved.
Participants were encouraged to question scripts, seek clarity from directors and avoid performing without understanding their characters or scenes.
Dhlamini also challenged the idea that directors should control every movement an actor makes.
“You read the script and you find yourself. I cannot control you. You are not a tool. I just give you the lines you are supposed to follow and give you space to play, to look at your surroundings in your own way. Play what you have seen,” he said.
He used the example of an actor portraying a gunman standing by a door, explaining that the performer must use imagination and visualisation to create a believable reaction even without having personally experienced such a situation.
The festival has also featured a theatre making masterclass led by South African theatre practitioner Dr Sindi Disi.
Disi placed participants in different environments, including a hospital ward, construction site and school setting, and challenged them to develop dramatic situations from those surroundings.
The sessions explored the use of sound, visual elements and monologues to strengthen stage productions.
Disi also spoke about the professional demands of the performing arts, telling participants that audiences who pay for tickets expect quality productions. He encouraged the young performers to remain disciplined, master dialogue and commit themselves fully to their assigned characters.
Speaking during an interview on the sidelines of the festival, Disi praised the opportunities being created for local performers.
“The festival is doing a phenomenal job by providing a vital platform for local talent to showcase what they are truly capable of, I have been genuinely amazed by the level of raw talent, hunger to learn and creative passion I have seen among the participants here.”
The workshops form part of OITF’s broader programme aimed at exposing emerging Emaswati performers to professional theatre practitioners and practical skills in performance and production.
