Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu
THE curtains go down, lights dim, library silence falls over the crowd, and for a few hours, strangers sit together in the dark to share a single experience.
This is the unique magic of theatre and as World Theatre Day (WTD) approaches, the globe celebrates this ancient art form not just as entertainment, but as a vital force for connection, empathy, and truth.
Observed annually on March 27, WTD is a global celebration of the performing arts. It is a day to recognise the cultural impact of storytelling and the creative exchange that happens when thespians and audiences meet.WTD is dedicated to celebrating the art of theatre and its power to unite people across cultures.
This day honours the vibrant traditions of theatre around the world and highlights the role that performing arts play in fostering creativity, dialogue, and understanding.
It’s a time to recognise the contributions of theatre artists, including actors, directors, playwrights, and designers, and to promote the importance of theatre as a cultural and educational tool.
When Thandolwenkosi Nyathi steps onto the stage on WTD, she embodies this global spirit perfectly.
Her debut in the Centre for Talent Development’s (CTD) premiere of, “Umendo” is more than a personal milestone; it’s the culmination of years of patient nurturing, community investment, and the unwavering belief of dedicated teachers that cultivated talent can truly transform lives.
Nineteen-year-old Nyathi, a resident of Cowdray Park living with her parents and sister, is academically accomplished.
A graduate of Matopo Mission School and St Columba’s High School, where she achieved an impressive fourteen points at A-Level, she is pursuing studies in Tourism and Wildlife.
Yet, on stage, inhabiting the character of Gugu, she will showcase a different kind of intelligence – the raw, electric connection of live performance that transcends points and grades.
She told this publication that this is by-far the biggest stage she would be at.
“I feel geared up for my debut gig as a thespian. It is an important occasion for me. I started my journey in 2022 as a Form 3 student writing poems in Matopo High School and then I entered an acting competition where I won a certificate and that’s how this began for me. I believe acting is an inborn thing in me and I’m looking forward to World Theatre Day,” she said.
“I love rehearsals honestly. They are amazing because they are a stress reliever but can be challenging as this will be my first time performing such a long performance so it can be challenging at the same time working on lines remembering important points for each scene hence that is the challenge I might be facing,” she added.
The CTD, launching her journey, speaks to organic, community-driven arts education.
Distinct from commercial ventures or foreign-funded NGOs, CTD is a grassroots initiative led by experienced educators deeply embedded in Zimbabwe’s system.
These teachers, who have contributed to national curriculum and syllabus development with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, firmly believe the arts are fundamental to the Heritage-Based Curriculum, not an extracurricular luxury.
Volunteering their Saturdays, CTD gathers youths from Bulawayo schools, rigorously training them in Theatre Arts while meticulously aligning activities with national policy. Their model demonstrably transforms lives.
Registered with the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (requiring monthly reports and regular monitoring for legitimacy), CTD also empowers fellow educators. They run workshops for teachers of Indigenous Languages, Literature in English, and Physical Education and Arts, notably pioneering Literature Performance Based Workshops that use drama as a key to unlock complex texts for students.
The proof of CTD’s impact walks Zimbabwe’s broader arts stages. Alumni like the acclaimed Khekhe the Actor, Sigeca Madolx, Bathabile Dlamini, Lisa Sidambe, Shamma Banda, and Charimane Mdau all began their journeys in those Saturday sessions, carrying CTD’s foundational training forward.
Nyathi is poised to become the newest name on this distinguished list. Her WTD debut feels like perfect symmetry.
Established in 1961 by the International Theatre Institute (ITI), WTD annually spotlights theatre’s power to bridge divides and foster peace through a global message. Stepping onto the stage, Nyathi joins this centuries-spanning tradition of artistes sharing universal human truths.
Umendo, promises to explore resonant themes of love, tradition, and the place of custom in contemporary life. While the narrative specifics await the premiere, the title roots the production firmly in the cultural landscape of Bulawayo, ensuring a story authentic to its community.
For CTD, guided by coordinator Thabani Hilary Moyo (acknowledged by the Curriculum Development and Technical Services department), this premiere is another quiet milestone in a journey focused on results over publicity. – Follow on X @MbuleloMpofu
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