Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu, [email protected]
Zimbabwe’s performing arts sector is receiving a significant boost this July as Almasi Collaborative Arts hosts two internationally acclaimed theatre and screen professionals for an intensive skills development programme designed to elevate local creative talent ahead of the highly anticipated Africa Voices Now! 2026 festival.
From July 13 to 25, award-winning playwright, screenwriter and director Stephen Belber and internationally renowned voice and acting coach Scott Miller are leading specialised workshops in Harare, offering a select group of Zimbabwean entertainment industry professionals a rare opportunity to learn directly from globally respected practitioners.
The workshops, which form part of Almasi’s year-round arts development programme, are being held at The Friendship Bench and The Jasen Mpepho Little Theatre, with Miller facilitating Acting & Voice while Belber leads Writing for Stage & Screen.
The initiative serves as a precursor to Africa Voices Now! 2026, Almasi Collaborative Arts’ flagship festival dedicated to showcasing new Zimbabwean theatre while strengthening the country’s creative ecosystem through sustained professional development.
Almasi says the July intensives reflect its long-term commitment to nurturing Zimbabwean talent and creating meaningful pathways from training to professional production.
“Zimbabwe has extraordinary artists, and this programme is about creating the conditions for that talent to grow, compete, and lead. Bringing practitioners of Scott Miller and Stephen Belber’s calibre into this process is part of ensuring that Zimbabwean artists are engaging world-class standards while developing their own voices,” said Zaza Muchemwa, Associate Artistic Director of Almasi Collaborative Arts.
The arrival of Belber brings considerable international prestige to the programme.
An award-winning playwright, screenwriter and director, Belber’s work has been staged on Broadway and in more than 25 countries, earning him recognition as one of the leading voices in contemporary theatre and screen storytelling.
His impressive portfolio spans theatre, film and television, including credits on The Laramie Project, Law & Order: SVU, the acclaimed film Tape, and the Netflix thriller The Madness, which he created and served as showrunner.
Belber’s career also includes the feature film Match, starring Patrick Stewart and Carla Gugino, as well as Management, featuring Jennifer Aniston and Woody Harrelson, underscoring the depth of experience he brings to Zimbabwean writers seeking to develop compelling narratives for both stage and screen.
His workshop on Writing for Stage & Screen runs concurrently with Miller’s programme, allowing participants to strengthen both their storytelling and performance skills under internationally recognised mentors.
Equally distinguished is Scott Miller, a professor at New York University’s prestigious Tisch Graduate Acting Program and founder of the mVm Miller Voice Method®.
With more than four decades of experience as a coach, trainer and educator, Miller has worked across theatre, film, broadcasting, education and leadership development, helping professionals refine their communication, vocal technique and stage presence.
His diverse professional background, which includes work in professional sports, law, producing, directing and performance training, has informed a practical and disciplined approach to developing authentic performance and effective communication.
Miller’s Acting & Voice intensive runs from July 13 to 24, culminating in a public showcase on July 25, where participants will demonstrate the skills acquired during the programme.
The workshops are intentionally exclusive, with a carefully selected group of Zimbabwean entertainment industry professionals invited to participate in the intensive training experience.
Organisers believe the smaller cohort will foster deeper engagement between facilitators and participants while encouraging rigorous artistic growth.
Both Miller and Belber are also available for interviews during their visit, presenting an opportunity for Zimbabwe’s media and creative community to engage with two internationally respected figures whose careers have shaped contemporary theatre and screen production.
The July programme forms part of Almasi’s broader vision of professionalising Zimbabwe’s creative industries by exposing artists to world-class training while encouraging them to develop distinctly African stories and artistic voices.
Rather than offering isolated workshops, Almasi has structured its annual calendar as a continuous development pipeline, linking training, script readings, creative intensives and public performances.
That journey culminates in Africa Voices Now! 2026, which will showcase new Zimbabwean plays and productions while highlighting the country’s emerging playwrights, actors and theatre-makers.
The festival represents the culmination of Almasi Collaborative Arts’ sustained investment in talent development, creating a clear pathway from classroom to stage and from local recognition to international opportunity.
By bringing internationally celebrated practitioners into direct collaboration with Zimbabwean creatives, Almasi continues to position the country’s theatre and screen industries within broader global conversations while ensuring that local stories remain at the centre of artistic innovation.
The country’s performing arts sector continues to evolve and initiatives such as these are expected to play a critical role in strengthening professional standards, fostering international collaboration and preparing a new generation of artistes to carry African narratives onto stages and screens around the world. – Follow on X @MbuleloMpofu
Bongani Moyo