Online Reporter
Prince Mushawevato
LOCAL theatre is set for a major boost when the eagerly anticipated 2026 edition of Africa Voices Now (AVN)! roars to life in a couple of weeks.
For quite some time, the Zimbabwean theatrical landscape has struggled to fully recover from the disruptive effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, which redirected public attention towards online entertainment, particularly social media skits.
This online frenzy birthed a new wave of stars — such as Comic Elder, Moojaya, Frets Donzvo and Bee Wezhira — offering alternative sources of entertainment that inevitably affected live theatre attendance.
Compounding these pandemic-era hardships was the heartbreaking loss of legendary arts practitioners like Walter Muparutsa, Stephen Chifunyise and Cont Mhlanga, giants whose absence left a noticeable void in the nation’s cultural fabric.
This immense challenge, coupled with a persistent lack of proper, easily accessible and affordable performance venues — particularly at the grassroots level — has stifled fresh talent discovery, leaving many ambitious youths with very few outlets for creative expression.
However, commendable strides have been made over the years to reclaim theatre’s lost shine.
While public attendance figures at live events have gradually improved, overall numbers have yet to match the bustling heights registered before the pandemic.
Fair analysis dictates that theatre was hardly alone in its suffering, as many entertainment venue owners and the broader showbiz scene faced identical economic storms.
Despite these lingering hurdles, a conscious, determined push by celebrated arts practitioners like Jasen Mphepo, Daves Guzha, Raisedon Baya and Daniel Maphosa has steadily helped the sector regain its lustre, proving that the passion for live acts in Zimbabwe refuses to be extinguished.
This resurgence finds its most vibrant expression in the upcoming festival, Africa Voices Now!
The second edition of the event will be hosted at Harare’s Jason Mphepo Little Theatre from October 17 to November 6.
Serving as the pinnacle of Almasi Collaborative Arts’ year-round developmental pipeline, the festival is designed to be an outstanding theatrical showcase.
The event will present three Zimbabwean productions in rotation featuring Tatenda Mutyambizi’s “30 Acres”, Cynthia Marangwanda’s “Shards” and Tawanda Josh Vombo’s “Quixotic”.
These productions are expected to offer audiences a vivid and wide-ranging portrait of contemporary Zimbabwean life, tackling complex themes.
The forthcoming event also directly addresses the historical barriers that have long plagued local creatives by establishing a clear, professional pathway from rigorous grassroots training to high-quality public production.
Through intensive capacity-building initiatives — such as masterclasses in acting, voice and scriptwriting facilitated by distinguished global experts like Stephen Belber — participating artistes are exposed to world-class standards while refining their indigenous stories.
Furthermore, partnerships with international theatre powerhouses ensure that exceptional local narratives can transcend national borders, bridging the gap between local talent and the global stage.
“I am thrilled with our line-up of plays for AVN 2026. We at Almasi continue to pour into local talent and the fruits of our labour have never been more evident.
These writers are bringing to the audience a fresh, new, insightful and incisive look at the stories of our people,” said Danai Gurira, Almasi co-founder and executive artistic director.
“We are energised by the progress made and are excited to continue striving to bring the African narrative to the global stage.”
Africa Voices Now! stands as a transformative launchpad, promising to inject renewed energy, professional discipline and enduring economic viability into the heart of local theatre.
The festival represents the culmination of more than a year of intensive artistic development by Almasi Collaborative Arts, which has built its programmes around professional training, mentorship, new-play development and international artistic exchange.
Co-founded in 2011 by Zimbabwean-American actress and playwright Gurira, the organisation has, over the past 14 years, trained more than 250 African artistes, developed 31 new African plays and facilitated international fellowships and postgraduate pathways for Zimbabwean creatives.
“The festival plays an irreplaceable role in advancing Zimbabwe’s dramatic arts sector. By facilitating high-level artistic training and nurturing new African dramatic works, AVN addresses a critical need within the creative ecosystem,” added Almasi collaborative arts associate artistic director Zaza Muchemwa.
