A Season of Return: Notes from the Artistic Director

By Nelago Shilongoh Artistic Director, National Theatre of Namibia

Though we staged a handful of productions since 2019, the theatre has stood dark far too often – more than we ever wished. We’ve missed the good old wooden scent of the dance rehearsal rooms, the constant trail of cleaning detergents in the hallway during a busy schedule, and those accidental shoulder bumps with artists deep in thought, acquaintances stopping by to say hello, and concerned parents arriving to collect their children after rehearsals; each one a small but meaningful part of the theatre’s daily rhythm, a gentle reminder of how our creative home beats with life and connection.

Theatre programming is hard work, but it is good work. To witness artistic dreams, take shape on stage, in the hearts of admiring audiences, and to challenge the minds that need challenging, that is what we missed the most. We longed for the familiar and frequented space where dreams and people meet, create, and commune.

Now, after quiet, focused work behind the scenes, we are proud to announce our first full Theatre Season since 2020/21. We’ve had time to reflect deeply on how the theatre can return as a compassionate agent and servant of the Namibian people, not only in Windhoek, but across the diverse regions of our country.

The 2025/26 Season offers a collection of projects and programmes, which our General Manager, Alma Ulamba, refers to as “a house with many rooms”. Across our various streams – from world-class showcases to skill-building labs, youth development, public art, and community-driven performances – we envision a warm and welcoming house. A place where people can create, celebrate, think, and grow together.

Our Main Programme, which features professional showcases and commissions, will open with a live music concert featuring Erna Chimu, Waters, and Sagarias Tsam; three voices rooted in Namibian sonic foundations. The programme will also include a contemporary dance work, LAND, by Haymich Olivier, exploring the effects of land dispossession in Namibia.

On a choral note, our Blended Voices Choral Competition will return annually with greater scope. We are also excited for the return of Last Band Standing in 2026 – a milestone musical project featuring Namibia’s leading bands competing for a grand prize. I’ll be staging a new theatre production in February 2026, a whimsical, time-travelling journey featuring a cast that many have longed to see on stage. In our continued commitment to education, we will once again produce a prescribed text for the stage, following the success of God of Women in 2025.

Under our New Makers Programme, we are excited to mentor emerging theatre talent. In November 2025, Rodney Gariseb will debut Naked Spaces, a play about relationships and human connection- raw, real, and relatable.

In keeping with our dedication to young audiences, the theatre will stage two new productions for children and youth. The Naughty Little Flea premieres in August 2025, followed by another new work in April 2026. Through these works- alongside the return of our beloved ArtBeat Programme, we aim to help raise culturally conscious young citizens, future artists, and arts lovers. Supported by the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts & Culture, ArtBeat equips secondary school learners with the tools to create theatre that reflects their worlds.

The UNAM Performing Arts Showcase Week, first inaugurated in 2019, will also return in 2025. It offers a valuable platform for Drama students and graduates to be seen by the sector’s stakeholders.

To develop our creative sector even further, the NTN Stage Actors Training Lab will launch in August 2025 under our Edu-Train Programme. This intensive initiative provides weekly training for Namibian actors aged 18 and older. Facilitated by experienced professionals, sessions will take place every Tuesday and Thursday from 14:00 to 17:00, offering participants the practical tools needed to succeed on both local and international stages.

Aligned with our goal of economic development within the sector, we will also host a musical theatre workshop series for local directors. Musical theatre is a genre we aim to expand, as it offers significant economic potential and audience appeal. Namibia holds countless stories waiting to be sung and staged, and we want to support local storytellers in doing just that. In addition, we will offer capacity-building opportunities for local choral conductors and composers, helping to foster closer collaboration and stronger artistic outcomes.

The pandemic taught us to think beyond our four walls. In partnership with the Goethe-Institut Namibia, we will host the 5th Otjomuise Live Arts Festival (OLAF) under the theme “Garden of Expression: Cultivating Community Through the Arts,” from 31 October to 1 November 2025. This edition will see Windhoek come alive with free, accessible arts that meet the public where they are. Moreover, as part of our decentralised efforts, the theatre is also planning a theatre intervention in the Kunene Region, aimed at providing skills development and employment opportunities for youth in the area.

Under our Outreach Programme, we will support a theatre ensemble in developing their own production. This includes a sketch comedy showcase in September 2025- a space for Namibians to laugh, reflect, and process the state of the nation. Sometimes, the best way to ask, “What on earth is going on?” is through theatre.

Finally, through our Co-Production Programme, the theatre is opening its doors to local producers and theatre makers. Once a full proposal is submitted, reviewed, and accepted, we will provide technical support, venue access, and marketing resources to help bring new creative visions to life. We encourage producers to propose works and casts that have not been featured on the NTN stage for some time, or perhaps not at all.

There is much more to be said, but I’ll leave it here for now.

Please stay connected through our digital platforms for news on upcoming projects, auditions, and opportunities. And do engage with us, let us know what you would love to see on the NTN stage.

We look forward to welcoming you back. Let’s make this house a home together, and make theatre matter.