Soweto Theatre grooming future stars

01 February 2016

 

Meet five-year-old Bandile Tshabalala, a film, theatre and TV star in the making.

 

The resourceful and enthusiastic Protea Glen, Soweto, boy was among 110 young people aged between five and 21 who at the weekend successfully auditioned for places in the Soweto Theatre’s youth development programme called Lits’omong Children’s Theatre.

Soweto Theatre, in Jabulani, is one of the City of Johannesburg’s meccas of entertainment.

Earlier, Bandile had waited nervously outside the theatre for his turn to show the judges what he could offer on stage. More than 350 young Soweto boys and girls, many of them accompanied by their parents, showed up for the auditions. An excited Bandile said he heard about the programme last year when a Lits’omong Children’s Theatre team visited his creche to teach them about aspects of theatre. 

“I’m excited about the auditions. I enjoy the dance lessons they give and I’ve already made new friends,” Bandile said with an infectious smile. 
Bokang Makgetha, 5, of Mapetla, said he was also nervous but was glad he made it.

Khosi Hlatshwayo, the theatre’s Community Development Manager, said she was happy about the turnout.

“This shows Soweto residents are eager for their kids to learn about theatre,” she said.

The parents, once they accept the programme’s terms and conditions, will be required to pay a commitment fee of R25 a month.

“I’m excited we have more five-year-olds who came to audition. We hope as time goes by we will be able to take children from the age of two,” said Hlatshwayo.

The new intake will be taught various aspects of theatre – from acting and dancing to stage lighting and design. The theatre will stage two concerts, one in June and the other in December. Hlatshwayo said the focus had shifted from politics to African fairytale so the programme could be more appealing to children.

“We’d like to see the products of this programme make it into big theatrical and musical productions around the world. We want to have young kids doing great things and mastering the art.”

Facilitator Mpho Moroe said what the programme was looking for were children with different personalities so they could influence and complement each other. Moroe said the programme built confidence and helped children deal better with challenges they faced at school.

Parent Marilyn Ledumo said she brought her nine-year-old son to the auditions because he had shown great interest in dance.

“This is where his passion is going to be groomed and I can’t wait to see him performing in the concerts,” she said.