adminEmmanuel Ndlovu Entertainment Correspondent
ND Productions, an arts organisation led by female artistes based in Bulawayo has started a one-year training programme called Theatre for Everyone, which seeks to empower children housed in children’s homes with artistic skills.The initiative which was launched last week at Emthunzini Wethemba Children’s Home and Khayelihle Children’s Home in the city is running under the theme Promoting and Expanding Theatre to the Overlooked Sections of the Society.
The programme is also expected to be introduced to seven selected children’s institutions dotted around the city. Nonhlalo Dube, the project coordinator for this milestone programme, said its aim is to cater for some sections of the society which have been sidelined by artistes and other stakeholders.
She said most arts organisations and individuals have worked tirelessly in schools and colleges but forgot the children’s homes throughout the country.
“We thought of introducing the programme after realising that there are some sections of the society which have grossly been ignored by artistes and other stakeholders.
“We want to close this gap. The whole aim of Theatre for Everyone is to empower the young ones with necessary artistic skills for them to create their own theatre groups for entertaining each other and also for commercial purposes,” said Dube.
Dube also said at least 30 children between the ages of 10 and 18 per institution are set to benefit from the project. Children will be equipped with skills in acting, playwriting, directing and producing.
The programme will also engage professional and theatre gurus as tutors in order to offer quality skills to the children. The initiative will also work in partnership with well-known arts institutions such as Intwasa Festival KoBulawayo, the National Gallery in Bulawayo, Amakhosi Cultural Centre and Nhimbe Trust, among others.
Dube said plans are underway to take the programme to other provinces in the country. ND Productions is a non-profit making organisation which specialises in theatre for development and film making.
The production house has produced and showcased several popular productions in the country which include radio and TV programmes as well as stage plays and short films.
The brains behind the organisation are Sithandazile Dube, Nyaradzo Rupare, Nomvuyo Mabi, Fortune Tazvivinga and Dube.
Dube is also the coordinator of the Women In Theatre initiative and local television soap Nyaminyami which is a production of Amakhosi.
Online Reporter
Londile Moyo