23 Mar 2017

Three theatre groups have collaborated in an effort to raise funds for a theatre centre which would help develop art as a sustainable form of livelihood.

The three groups; Ngami Theatre and Drum Theatre of Maun as well as Gagajapharing of Kanye trading as Scott and French Consultants planned a series of events to raise funds for the Centre.

In that regard, a corporate cocktail activation event is on the cards to be held on March 25, at Maun Cresta Riley’s Hotel, who are also the event sponsors.

In an interview, the project coordinator; Sengwato Rampha said Scotch and French Consultants has a pre-event aimed at familiarising corporate stakeholders with the campaign dubbed ‘Flash and Lights Corporate Night’ to help raise funds to ensure they realise their dream.

The theatre groups, he said went beyond performing arts hence focused on administration, events management, research, project proposals and management.

Rampha said their motive was to ensure money amassed from performing arts sustained the artists for life.

He said it was disheartening that some famous artistes died poor while they were artistes of repute at some point which he said was a result of lack of managerial skills therefore Scott and French consultants aimed to arrest that situation.  

Botswana, he said has about 20 000 officially registered artistes with the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development but unfortunately half of those artistes’ population remained unemployed.

He noted that Botswana had few training facilities for arts such as University of Botswana which only trained a selected few therefore leaving behind a high population of performing artistes.

The theatre centre, he said would therefore provide short courses on management skills, sport science, finance and accounting.

Rampha pointed out that the centre would also benefit other marginalised groups in society such as orphans and women forced by circumstances to engage in sex work through life skills empowerment programmes to make them employable.

The activation dinner event, he said would foresee unveiling of the project to the stakeholders to mobilise stakeholders towards the main event in August.

A Gaborone-based group; Harmonic Angel is expected to serenade attendants at the dinner event as well as Botswana Theatre Ensemble corporate group who are also official sponsors of the event.

The latter, he said would perform their play When we were Bechuanaland.

Rampha said the event had limited tickets; Platinum executive tickets selling at P2 500 for four people and Business class tickets selling at P1 500 for two people.

The funds, he said would help secure a plot and construction of the centre after the main event in August. ENDS