adminRaisedon Baya
I WRITE this article while sitting in the Great Ceremonial Hall at National University of Science and Technology. I have nightmares about this place. It is a terrible performance venue. A nightmare for every artiste.
Well, I’m not here to perform. I’m here to adjudicate one of the arts and cultural events under the annual Research and Intellectual Outputs for Science, Engineering and Technology (RIOSET). This is my second time here. Last year I narrowly escaped watching too many events in the great hall. However, there is no escaping it this year as I’m adjudicating the drama competitions being held in this gigantic space.
The acoustics are terrible here. There are more than six microphones all over the stage. The place looks crowded already. More than twenty universities and colleges are here to present short plays on traffic safety, particularly tyre safety. I sincerely hope I will survive today.
Seven hours later. The article is still not complete. But the important thing is I have survived the day, survived the torture. I just feel for the artistes who had to go on this big stage. All 22 plays have been performed. My eyes are itchy, almost sore. The water before me is now warm, tasteless. Don’t get me wrong.
I honestly think for someone passionate about theatre it has been a day well spent, forget the itchy eyes and all. There is no better privilege than watching over 400 young and aspiring artistes on stage. For the better part of the day I had a feeling of watching the future of theatre before my own eyes. The highlight for me was seeing several actors go on stage and enjoy every moment of their performance. The arts are meant to be enjoyed. I think there is need to invite High Schools Drama club to watch this event in future. They could learn one or two things.
My biggest disappointment of the day was the failure to see the bigger objective by most universities and colleges. To prove on stage that drama or the arts were a more effective way of communication and education. In this case their presentations failed to prove that drama was or could be actually the best way of spreading the traffic safety message. Most of the performances were over the top, information loaded lectures. The idea of edutainment was somehow lost.
Here are some observations I noted.
1. There were no surprises, either in terms of the stories and the interpretation of themes. The stories were predictable as if one person had created them.
2. The performance space was un-suitable for drama, later on any performance. This took out the energy in most actors and actresses.
3. There was not even a single story that tried positive reinforcement. Would have loved seeing some characters doing the right things.
4. Left the venue worried about the use of proper alcohol on stage. Somehow I had a feeling that the drinking on stage was a silent symptom of the alcohol abuse in universities and colleges.
5. The idea that drama was conflict and action was missed.
6. Need for workshops on what is theatre for development and how best it can be used to push social messages.
But all in all, the platform is a good platform to showcase art and creative talent in colleges and universities.
Bongani Ndlovu