OUR MISSION
Isithatha’s mission is to bring a bright new light to communities in and around Walmer, Port Elizabeth.
We seek a radiance that will emerge from the darkness of past conflict, deprivation and ignorance and bring people together from different backgrounds who share a commitment to the arts.
We aim to promote our multi-functional facility as one that is accessible to people from both sides of the ‘Apple Express’ railway track; one that is suitable for all the arts, including dance, the visual arts, music and drama.
We are dedicated to offering Arts training to underprivileged youth, creating a stage for performers, and actively contributing to community development by generating job opportunities. Additionally, our facility remains sustainable by leasing it to diverse organizations and individuals for both Arts and corporate functions, with a preference for cultural events.
Our vision extends towards the creation of a comprehensive theatre space that not only serves the local community of Gqeberha, but also reaches out to broader audiences.
THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE, AND WHY
Our Learners
Our learners are between the ages of 9-28. They are predominantly black teenagers, with a 30:70 ratio between male & female learners. We are 300m from theWalmer township, which is where all our young learners attend school & reside. The township is fraught with poverty & crime and our youth face multiple social issues,from substance abuse, parental neglect, sexual abuse to gang violence.
Our Audiences
Isithatha Theatre caters to people of all ages, cultures and social backgrounds, with a diverse range of performances & events. In Walmer, the Apple Express railway line draws a clear distinction between the township and what is predominantly an affluent suburb. Few activities occur in the area frequently enough to develop social cohesion.
Our Performers
Young artists, from musicians, dancers to playwrights need help establishing themselves. Isithatha Theatre supports them with a venue to perform, so they may showcase their work & generate a living.
OUR IMPACT
Our Learners
Our training is of a global standard, where learners can conduct examinations through Trinity College London (TCL). With an “Advanced Performance Certificate”, adult learners can apply for acting jobs and secure an agent. Learners who do not complete TLC exams still receive a certified learning, but both enable learners to pursue a higher education.
Using class material relevant to their lives, learners can develop tools to cope with personal challenges & process trauma. They also develop important life skills, which they can apply to any chosen career. Critical thinking, communication, emotional agility & teamwork, to name a few.
Having lost a former learner to gang violence, our learners make a choice every day for a place which is safe & stable. Classes run every Friday, but learners are onsite all week. They have access to free wi-fi and students spend their time doing homework. Sometimes they also receive a meal, which has been generously donated.
Learners receive exposure to different works, where attending exhibitions and theatrical productions form part of our syllabus. They are also exposed to newly qualified professionals, who act as role models and instill a sense of purpose in their lives. We also provide them access to an advanced network within the industry.
Our Audiences
Art is a wonderful way of bringing people together. As one of the 4 active theatres in the city, none match our capacity for social engagement, which Isithatha achieves with location and space.
Our heritage building is set on 5,200m2 and hundreds of people attend events every month. One of our biggest is the “Friendly City Food Market”, where we drive a unique genre of entertainment, from African drumming, poetry to traditional Xhosa choiring. This, together with our theatrical productions, Isithatha has positioned itself as a centre of culture, using strong social themes to influence audiences and deepen their cultural understanding.
Art can also inspire social change by raising awareness of important issues and inspiring activism. “Picture Frame”, which was written by the late Gift Buqa, & former Isithatha Trustee, on life & poverty in the Walmer Township is just one such production and is still being performed today. Another is Mike Van Graan’s, “My Fellow South Africans”, on the discourses that will shape our 2024 national elections.