News and Events: Good Husband of Zebra Drive, The

Alexander McCall Smith has set up a small opera house in the bush just outside Gaborone, in Botswana. The project has been undertaken jointly with David Slater, a long-time resident of Botswana who has made a major contribution over the years to music in that country. The opera house, which will be called the No. 1 Ladies’ Opera House, is to be housed in an old transport garage, now converted for the purpose. Alexander McCall Smith discovered the garage when he was looking for places similar to the garage featured in The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, one of the most popular series of books in the world with more than 15 million copies sold in the English language and translation into 44 languages around the world.

The No. 1 Ladies’ Opera House, the only opera house in the country, will give local singers a chance to perform in opera and in regular concerts. Botswana has a tradition of choral singing. ‘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.’

The project is financed by Alexander McCall Smith and will provide employment for five people. At first there will be a very modest programme, with one or two operas being put on each year, using a small chamber orchestra of local players and players brought in from South Africa. As far as possible; the singers will all be local. ‘We will find our great tenors in Botswana,’ said Alexander McCall Smith. ‘We have already found one young man who can sing like Beniamino Gigli. Now he will have his chance to hold the stage.’ At other times, the venue will be used for musical recitals, poetry readings, singing and much more. Ticket prices will be kept low with occasional free performances to make sure that the music staged is as accessible as possible.

David Slater will run the opera and its café and restaurant. He has already bought 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, and Mma Ramotswe’s presence will be very evident in the decor. Redbush tea – her favourite brew – will be served during the intervals.

‘People might think it an impossible, ridiculous dream,’ said Alexander McCall Smith. ‘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.’