MBABANE – The Secretary General of the Association of Swazi Theatre Groups (ASTG) Bonsile Mamba wants the Swaziland Theatre Club to be used strictly for arts.

This comes after the only venue suitable for arts in Mbabane was closed on Wednesday which affected the Rooted Soulz poetry group session from taking place as initially planned. She said she would love the venue to be used strictly for the arts, it was initially created for.

“It is very disappointing to us as the arts industry considering that this is the only place in Mbabane adequate enough. We are however yet to meet with the relevant executives to discuss how we can work together with the club’s directors,” said Mamba.

ASTG was in the process of working out all the logistics required to host monthly events with the Rooted Soulz to improve the arts and open doors for as many local acts as possible.

Who owns the Theatre Club?- Larry

MBABANE – Pelepele’s Larry Mhlanga wants to know the owner of the Theatre Club.

Mhlanga said all they knew was that there was a committee responsible for all the decisions regarding the club but wished to know who the sole owner of the place was and what their mission or vision for the place was.

“We normally rehearse there but have not had a chance to do that for a couple of days now and that is very disappointing. We trust the Swaziland National Council of Arts and Culture will intervene in this situation as they had also helped us secure the venue for rehearsals,” said Mhlanga.

Molly’s Restaurant together with the Rooted Soulz team helped bring a crowd to the venue and has taught people above the culture of theatre and the arts industry in general. Over the years we have seen the Rooted Soulz grow and have been one of the key players in the poetry industry which has created a good relationship with South African, French and Ugandian artists among others. In a brief interview with the Chief Executive Officer of the Swaziland National Arts and Culture Stanley Dlamini he said as an association they were in the process of engaging all relevant associations.

 He said they were still trying to understand the reasons behind the club’s closure. “We will meet with the Association of Swazi Theatre Groups to discuss a way forward. We feel that it was very disappointing for people to be turned back on the very last minute on Friday and are also very aware that this is the only place in Mbabane that the arts industry can use,” said Dlamini. The last time they tried to engage the Mbabane Theatre Club, they were told there is membership which then votes for the head of the committee who controls all the decisions made for the venue. He also mentioned that this situation called for immediate intervention which they were working on.