South African seasoned actors Hamilton Dhlamini and Thulani Mtsweni have encouraged emaSwati to tell their own stories. The actors who arrived in Swaziland on Thursday afternoon and visited the Swazi Obsever office, met with the editorial staff ahead of their interview to interact and share picture moments with the staff. The two actors who are in the country with their Stage Manager Phumeza Damane are visiting the country with the sole purpose of bringing back to life the 1981 political satire ‘Woza Albert’ which they are performing at the Eswatini Theatre Club.

Dhlamini said they had decided that the play be also showcased in the country because they did not want local actors to be left behind. “We are merely saying that locals, especially the young talent should not rush to run to other countries to tell other peoples stories but stay here to narrate your own beautiful stories so that people are aware of the livelihoods in the country,” he said.

Speaking from his last visit he made in 2021, he said he had appreciated the talent witnessed in the country. “You guys can do it. All you need to do is believe in yourselves. There are lots of stories that you can tell on Eswatini TV that they could be written and directed here so you take ownership of your stories,” he added. Quizzed on the importance of having theatre and drama schools in the country, Dhlamini stated that it was important, however, the country could not have such schools if there were no actors or demand.

He added that the need could only be realised when the youth had gained an interest in acting otherwise there were many halls and other establishments that could be utilised meanwhile. “Theatre is not a building. All you need to have is one actor and one audience member, wherever you are, there is theatre. As long as you start now with nothing, theatre schools and the rest will follow,” said Mtsweni.

Dhlamini further shared that he had noted some local actors who had gotten the opportunity to be featured in SA drama series. He advised such local talents to come back and plough back to young upcoming actors in the country who needed their support. “We are here to plough back too and we will be showing the play ‘Woza Albert’ today and have acting classes tomorrow so as to say, this is the theory we shared with you earlier on and then play it, to speak to what we were teaching during the classes. “We are giving people the confidence that they need,” added Dhlamini.