Silly Wits growing strong

There is no doubt that the Namibian creative industry is for the thick-skinned only. It is very hard to make it successfully if you are one who waits for opportunities to present themselves to you. The whimsical minds of Zindri Swartz and Lavinia Kapewasha are bringing you a laugh through fresh comedy and great acting. Since its inception early last year, Silly Wits has been making waves and creating a platform for local actors to showcase their talent. Silly Wits is a sketch improvisational comedy show with a Namibian heart, inspired by the British/American show Whose Line is it Anyway and Sonny With a Chance. The aim, according to founder Swartz, is to allow consistency for Namibian actors to perform and showcase their talent. Silly Wits is also a platform to let the public know that there is more to the arts industry than just theatre, film or music. “It is a melting pot for actors from various fraternities and background of studies and a place where actors come together and really polish their skills. This is because there is improvisation and this activity needs the actors to think on their feet and this allows for personal growth,” said Rodelio Bonito who is Silly Wits spokesperson.The founder says he wanted to create a platform where artists can be in the same space and let their skills take over and have a common goal which is growth for acting. He says Silly Wits is a home for all actors and does not discriminate where one is new in the industry or whether they have been in the game for long. Local celebrity and actor Ashwyn Mberi and creative Hildegard Titus have been part of the show and they both agreed that is it the right move for the industry. According to Swartz, the reality is that there are a vast number of talented actors in the country but due to limited gigs, many are forced to get day jobs and sometimes disregard their talents. Silly Wits will be having their ninth show and Swartz says they are going strong, however, there are issues that are limiting their success. Lack of funding remains the top challenge and due to this, the actors sometimes go unpaid or receive very little to take home with. The majority of the actors that show the most interest in the show are female and very little response from their male counterparts. This, he says does not show equal representation of gender and could cause a problem in the future.“We have a curator and players who are the actors. Our current actors include Jennifer, Whilzhan, Bonito and Janice who are great at their jobs and help make the show lively. We are open to giving everyone an opportunity to showcase their talent. Silly Wits is an interacting show and we also give our audience a chance to take part which is always fun,” said Swartz.The organisers have callouts to get the actors and sometimes they scout for them at theatre plays or through referrals. Another challenge is lack of support from the public and sponsorship from the private sector and government. Swartz recalls a show that only had ten people who attended but they had to give a staler performance. Other shows have sold out and they are considering getting a bigger venue to host their shows from. They look forward to getting their programme on television.“There are a lot of amazing arts projects that have been put on but they do not survive long enough to reach maturity because of funding. We have the FNCC who have sponsored us with the venue and we also have private donors who have come on board but we need more. We want the government to be more generous to the arts industry like the MICT can sponsor us with filming equipment in order for us to package our shows better. Its little things like that,” he said. The organisers say they have big plans for the show which include decentralising the event and taking it to regions which will give an opportunity to actors all over the country to take part. The next Silly Wits brings together elements of dance, song, jokes and eccentric energy for an impressive entertaining night. Don't miss a tantalising comedy extravaganza at the FNCC on 28 June.June Shimuoshili

Silly Wits growing strong

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-17

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Silly Wits growing strong

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-17

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