Eswatini Theatre Club to receive ‘facelift’

MBABANE – Eswatini Theatre Club has been awarded a grant by the German Embassy to create a grassroots performance space.

The grant is a generous sum of 21 700 Euros, which is approximately E421 878. The funding comes from the German Embassy in Pretoria. This support will enable the institution to refurbish its foyer and transform it into a vibrant grassroots performance space, further strengthening its role within the country’s performance arts landscape. This achievement comes within the first year of the new committee taking office, a team comprising predominantly of artists and cultural practitioners. Under their leadership, the Theatre Club has experienced a notable increase in usage, hosting a diverse range of events such as film screenings, music concerts, dance performances and theatre programmes.

Installation

According to a press statement shared by Theatre Club Vice President Sizo Hlophe, the grant will facilitate the refurbishment of the main foyer and the installation of essential sound and lighting systems.

    “These upgrades are designed to address the critical shortage of dedicated performance venues in Eswatini, particularly in the capital city. The initiative aims to create a vibrant, accessible space for performance and experimental events, fostering a new era of cultural exchange and artistic development. We see this as a significant step forward in strengthening the facility’s role within the country’s cultural ecosystem, especially to bring people together and build culture.

As an institution, we recognise the importance of providing a platform for emerging artists to perform, network and grow their audiences. That is why it was vital for us to establish a grassroots performance space,” the statement reads.

Renovations commenced on Monday, June 23, 2025, and are expected to last three months.

During this period, access to some areas may be restricted and certain activities could be affected, but the Theatre Club remains committed to maintaining continuity in some of its accessible facilities. The Market Theatre Foundation in Johannesburg received funding from the South African Government and international partners to upgrade its community outreach and performance spaces. The grant, totalling approximately R10 million, was aimed at renovating existing theatre facilities and establishing a dedicated community engagement space within the theatre complex. The initiative seeks to foster local talent, increase accessibility to the arts and serve as a hub for emerging artists and community performances. Also the New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW), a prominent Off-Broadway theatre, received a substantial grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to refurbish and expand its community outreach spaces.

Performance

The grant, valued at around US$2 million, was allocated to renovate the theatre’s main lobby and rehearsal spaces, transforming them into accessible, flexible performance and workshop areas.

The project aimed to support emerging artists, foster community engagement and increase accessibility to the arts within the city.

The Theatre Club’s vision is to act as a window into Eswatini’s expanding cultural landscape, forging connections between local artists and the wider regional and global arts communities. “We warmly invite all partners interested in joining and supporting this ongoing transformation of the Eswatini Theatre Club to contact our office at theatreclubmba@gmail.com. Additionally, any enquiries regarding the use of other facilities should also be directed to this email address,” the statement concludes.