Chweneyagae on local collaborations, theatre
Dumisani Ncube | Friday August 18, 2017 15:37
“In my previous visit in the country I was impressed by my experience and I spoke to Tefo on a possible collaboration because I felt it was important to be part of the development of the arts in Botswana,” Chweneyagae, who will be staging a theatre performance with Paya titled Borderline, said.
He stated that with time he has grown fond of Batswana and the country in general, which led him to have a keen interest in collaborating with local artists.
He noted that through these collaborations he is hoping for longevity and more exposure in the different projects that they will work on.
“I would be impressed to see Botswana productions playing at international festivals such as the Gramstown Theatre Festival, which is one of the biggest in SA. Also we need productions that can be staged for a long time running for artists to get paid and have jobs. The most important thing is to have artists stay employed also with the support of the government and the private sector,” he said, explaining that long time running productions are mainly industrial plays that raise awareness on different issues.
Speaking on how an artists can have growth in their career he vividly said they should stay disciplined, have self-respect, work together with various artists in a peaceful environment and keep on reinventing their craft and stay versatile.
Chweneyagae is one of the most versatile actors in South Africa who features in both film and stage plays, which most artists find difficult to do due to the different techniques of the disciplines.
Above everything Chweneyagae said he was impressed by the local arts industry and infrastructure as he gave examples of plays that he watched during last year’s Maitisong Festival and the infrastructure that was used.
The South African actor is scheduled to stage a theatre piece alongside Paya and Mophato Dance Theatre during the Gaborone International Music Culture (GIMC) week on August 29 at Maitisong Theatre.