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industry, lecturers and students in theatre arts and members of drama clubs in Harare schools.
The celebrations, which were co-ordinated by Lloyd Nyikadzino, the ITI (Zimbabwe Centre) co-ordinator, began at 1300 hours and ended at 1800 hours and featured an action-packed programme of plays, poetry, dance and music performances and speeches.
The event began with the reading by Zane Lucas, the chairman of the ITI (Zimbabwe Centre), of the World Theatre Day international message written by Dario Fo, the Italian playwright, author and winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature.
In his message, Fo used the history of theatre in Italy to illustrate his point about the crisis and challenges theatre people have faced when he wrote: “A long time ago, Power resolved the intolerance against Commedia dell’arte by chasing them out of the country.
“Today, actors and theatre companies have difficulties finding public stages, theatre and spectators, all because of the crisis. Rulers are, therefore, no longer concerned with problems of control over those who express themselves with irony and sarcasm, since there is no place for actors, nor is there a public to address.
“Thus the only solution to the crisis lies in the hope that a great expulsion is organised against us and especially against young people who wish to learn the art of theatre: a new Diaspora of Commedianti, of theatre makers, who would, from such an imposition doubtlessly draw unimaginable benefits for the sake of a new representative.”
The two plays featured in the programme were outstanding and were a good example of Zimbabwean theatre practice. The play by the University of Zimbabwe theatre students, “Qapela Mermaid”, was a very appropriate piece to feature on day celebrating the importance of theatre and theatre practitioners.
Using physical theatre, song and dance and poetry performance, the play traced the story of the Zimbabwe’s struggle for liberation, the profile of those young men and women who took up arms to liberate their land; their recruitment of peasants to play a critical role in liberating themselves; the joy that gripped the entire nation when the Union Jack was lowered and the flag of Zimbabwe was raised.
The play also traces challenges in meeting the objective of independence and the unfortunate internal conflicts and violence among the liberators and hard road to achieving national unity.
The play ends with the audience joining in the singing of Black Umfolozi’s famous song, “Unity is Very Important”.
Churchill Boys’ High School Drama Club with their “Let Us” dealt with very mature sensitivity the urban crisis of street kids. The play highlighted what was an urgent call by the young people for something to be done to attend to the street kids crisis as a major national development challenge.
In the dance section of the programme a standing ovation was given to a hip-hop dance group, Ghetto Kreepers, who kept the audience on their feet ululating and clapping hands with joy.
This was especially in appreciation of the dazzling performance of the star of the seven-member group, Iky Makungwa, an eight-year-old boy who, in three complicated dance routines, never put a foot wrong.
The young master of dance was constantly aware of the appreciative audience that shouted for more from this boy from Mbare – a township that hosts some of Zimbabwe’s prolific and mastery hip-hip dance groups in Zimbabwe.
The music section of the programme was equally exciting. The self-styled King of the Dancehall, Mr Jiggaz, did not disappoint. It was amazing how the predominantly university student audience sang along with him in his very topical ragga songs about life in the ghetto and the transport crisis in the capital city, Harare.
Equally stunning was the performance by FB Jackson whose typical urban Zimbabwean music – the urban grooves – was well appreciated. The audience was equally thrilled by the main musical act of Brezhnev Ghuveya and Mhanda Accoustics who used mbira, marimba and drums to mesmerise the audience with love songs in English and Shona.
Poet Tendai Mavengeni (12), who played mbira as she recited her poems about herself and against girl child abuse, was quite moving and dramatic. The highlight of the commemorations was the presentation of certificates of recognition to 55 Harare-based young thespians who have hogged the Zimbabwean theatre limelight in the past few years..
The recognition certificates were issued by the University of Zimbabwe’s Theatre Arts Department and the International Theatre Institute (Zimbabwe Centre) as the first step in the process of recognising, on the World Theatre Day, those who have made outstanding contributions to the development of the theatre industry in Zimbabwe.
The certificates of recognition to actors, directors, playwrights, producers, theatre critics, choreographers, scenographers, stand-up comedians and theatre educators were presented by Dr Samuel Ravengai of the University of Zimbabwe Theatre Arts Department and Lucas.
It was good that the following prominent theatre stars participated in the World Theatre Day celebrations and received their recognition certificates in person: Blessing Hungwe Privilege Mutendera, Rutendo Chigudu, Tafadzwa Muzondo, Pretty Xaba, Chrispen Bere, Charity Dlodlo, Lloyd Nyikadzino Chipo Bizure, Samantha Ndlovu, Jimmy Mukurumbandi, Evangelista Mwase, Patrick Tembo, Winnie Moyo, Derek Nyiyakwe, Patrick Miller, Peace Mukwara, Priscilla Mutendera, Anthony Tongai, Patrick Mahlasera, Musa Musarurwa, Brezhnev Guvheya, Francis Nyakunhuwa, Rumbi Karize and Eddington Hatitogwe.
Lloyd Nyikadzino, of the International Theatre Institute (Zimbabwe Centre), will take recognition certificates to thespians in the rest of the provinces and also use the occasion to register members of the centre.
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