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The No.1 Ladies' Opera House

'People might think it an impossible, ridiculous dream. But why not? The singers are there. The building is there. And if the singers have to compete with the cicadas at night, then they are well used to that. Botswana is a wonderful country which to date has lacked an opera house. Now it has one. And it doesn't matter if it only seats sixty. Those sixty will have a lovely time.' - Alexander McCall Smith

The No. 1 Ladies' Opera House can be found a few miles outside Gaborone at Kgale Siding, surrounded by mature trees where the monkeys play. A tiny white van of the sort used by Mma Ramotswe in the books and in the film of The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency sits outside, and Mma Ramotswe's presence is very evident in the décor.

The siding has an interesting history as it was a workshop at the recruitment station the Batswana miners who went to work in the South African gold mines. The railway line runs close by. Kgale Siding is now a very small, but pretty, business park housed in the original old colonial buildings. The Opera House building has also been used as a dwelling. It was then reconverted just over a year ago to serve as an opera house and restaurant.

In starting the Opera House Alexander McCall Smith's aim was to provide a venue for young amateur musicians in Botswana, to encourage, train and promote them under the able tutelage of David Slater, one of the leading musicians in Botswana. The Opera House's simple, unusual décor and its capacity for some 60 seats provide an intimate atmosphere. Music, as in all countries in Africa, is hugely important and popular and Botswana has some exceptionally talented singers, bands and choirs. Future plans for the Opera House include an outreach programme to encourage and involve singing and music playing in some of the poorer areas of Gaborone.

In the last year the Opera House has hosted concerts, musical evenings, and private parties where local singers have been engaged to perform. Coming events include, amongst others, a planned Gala evening with the outstanding Buskaid orchestra from Soweto on the 15th of July, the Botswana Music Society's choir in late June, and a jazz session with Polka Casserole from San Francisco. In August a barbershop group will perform. Then there is the much talked about Okavango Macbeth opera, the opening night being be 3rd October 2009. With its libretto written by Alexander McCall Smith and the music by the Scottish composer Tom Cunningham, it promises to be a real treat.

Arrangements for the production are underway and it will run for 10 performances — one of which is a free performance for local school children. The BBC will be in attendance to record extracts from the performance and tickets will be available in August.
Tickets can be booked by contacting Catja Orford at no1.operahouse@gmail.com or alan.hannah1@gmail.com.

The restaurant at the Opera House is now under the new management of Catja Orford and re-opened in the first week of June. Coffee, lunches and afternoon teas are provided in both the house and under the shade of the adjacent trees.

'There are many wonderful singers there, and this will give them the opportunity to show and develop their talents. It will also give people in Gaborone the chance to see the occasional opera, something which they currently do not have.'

Many of the readers of the Mma Ramotswe books have joined the Friends of the No. 1 Ladies Opera House. The Chairman of this group is Maryla Green who lives in Edinburgh. The Friends receive bulletins and newsletters about the Opera House and it's related activities, but are not asked or expected to contribute financially. Many of the Friends are willing to help in other ways such as the local Friends in Gaborone who help with opera productions and concerts. The updating information is disseminated by e-mail, and there is a Google Group web site where the Friends can post comments and questions. To join, contact Alan at alan.hannah1@Gmail.com