On Thursday, February 22, Premier Stanley Mathabatha led the sod-turning ceremony held on the R37 road in Polokwane. The theatre will seat 300 people and will cost over R300m. It is expected to be completed in 24 months. Actor and filmmaker, Fumani Shiluvana, told the Herald that he believes that the theatre will contribute to the development of local artists as it will create a space where they can be thoroughly trained and equipped.

“At least Limpopo artists will not have to travel to other provinces to access a theatre. I hope this will unearth the hidden talent in our province. “I studied drama at the State Theatre, and it made me the actor I am today. “Most of the good actors on television were trained in theatres,” he said. Shiluvana said those who will benefit the most are those living in the vicinity.

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“For someone in Malamulele for instance, it will still be difficult to get there and back,” he said. Mokgadi Mashako, an artist, said the construction of the theatre was long overdue. She said according to her knowledge, Limpopo was the only province without a theatre. “I believe the theatre will be great for artists; my advice to the government is that they must allocate buses to transport people to and from the theatre.”

Mathabatha expressed his satisfaction with the commencement of construction. “The final appointment of the contractor to begin work towards the end of my term gives me comfort that the dream that has taken long has finally come to reality. “The vibrant and diverse talents of our artists in Limpopo, spanning across theatre, film, video, crafts, poetry, comedy, opera, choral music, and more, have long called for a dedicated and contemporary space to showcase their electrifying performances. Today, we respond to that call.”