OYO premiered ‘a little prince in Namibia’ at the National Theatre of Namibia

This year, thanks to support from the French Consulate in South Africa and in partnership with the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre (FNCC) and the National Theatre of Namibia (NTN) OYO staged ‘a little prince in Namibia’ – an adaptation of renown French book ‘le petit prince’ by Antoine de Saint Exupéry.

Born in Lyon to an aristocratic family, Saint-Exupéry trained as a commercial pilot in the early 1920s, working airmail routes across Europe, Africa, and South America. Saint-Exupéry joined the French Air Force for World War II and flew reconnaissance missions until France's armistice with Germany in 1940. After being demobilised by the Air Force, Saint-Exupéry lived in exile in the United States between 1941 and 1943 and helped persuade it to enter the war. During this time, his works Flight to Arras and The Little Prince were published. Saint-Exupéry did in July 1944 in a plane crash.

The Little Prince was first published in English and French in the United States in April 1943 and was published posthumously in France following liberation in 1945 (Saint-Exupéry's works had been banned by the Vichy Regime). The story follows a young prince who visits various planets, including Earth, and addresses themes of loneliness, friendship, love, and loss. Despite its style as a children's book, The Little Prince makes observations about life, adults, and human nature.

The Little Prince became Saint-Exupéry's most successful work. The book has been translated into over 505 different languages and dialects worldwide, being the second most translated work ever published, second only to the Bible.

To celebrate the 80th birthday of the publication of the book in France, OYO staged ‘A little prince in Namibia’. It is a massive production involving 13 actors/singers – led by Justin Tshabalala (‘Lukas’, ‘Neck tie’) and Nythem Dien (‘Twisted’), with guests such as Elisaveta Dreyden, Galilei Njembo, Alison Mbayo and Treazurique Titus – 12 dancers – led by Desmond Kamerika, Mary Jane Andreas and Sydney Farao – 5 musicians – led by Jesus Lasso – and a choir of 40 teenagers. Directed by Philippe Talavera, with costumes by Karolina Katumbo and props by Laurie Leccia and Laurence Jacq, it is an invitation to find back the child in each one of us.

‘Clementine Ruel, who starred last year in ‘discovering Michel’, convinced me to work on an adaptation of ‘le petit prince’’ explains director Dr Philippe Talavera. ‘I’ve always loved the book, having read it as a child, then as a teenager and years later as an adult. I purchased the English version, and started to dream of a local adaptation. In the book, the pilot crashes in a non-descript desert. But what if it had been near Sossusvlei… Slowly but surely, the script started to form’.

The show opened to the public on Thursday 14 August at 7pm and Friday 15 August at 7pm. A special matinee was organized for school children on Friday 15 August ‘It is important to expose young people to professional theatre’, says Talavera. ‘The creative industry is an industry with much potential. Hopefully, after witness a beautiful performance, some young people will find their calling.’ The final show on Friday 15 August evening was fully booked.