admin
Bongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
THE decision by Amakhosi Cultural Centre to postpone Inxusa Theatre Festival to next year has been described by film producers and playwrights as a setback to the growth of the local theatre industry.
Amakhosi Cultural Centre this week postponed the theatre festival which was meant to be held this month at Amakhosi to focus on setting up studios for their new commercial radio station – Skyz Metro FM.
Award winning film producer Nelson Mapako said the postponement showed that arts were not being prioritised.
“It’s unfortunate that the festival isn’t a priority. This is an indicator that the industry isn’t doing well,” he said.
Mapako said the postponement also meant art groups would not be able to share ideas that would have helped grow the industry.
“Artistes are the ones who’re mostly affected because Inxusa provides a platform to share ideas in order to grow the industry. I’ve a production called Inside My House but I’ve since stopped rehearsals following the postponement. The artistes were geared up for this festival but everything had to be put on hold,” he said.
Reuben Pembedza of Hloseni Arts said the postponement was a draw back to the industry because the opportunity to build audiences had been lost.
“Theatre is premised on performing for the audience. Now because Inxusa has been postponed this means we can’t build an audience that will appreciate theatre,” Pembedza said.
“The city used to play host to three festivals which are Inxusa, Intwasa and Ibumba. Now there’re two because of this development. The industry can’t be seasonal and should be active from January to December for us to grow and sustain our lives through art,” he said.
Playwright, Raisedon Baya said primary and secondary school pupils and students from local universities had been affected by the postponement.
“Students from Universities are the ones who’re the most affected as this was going to be a great opportunity for them to put into practice what they’re taught theoretically at school. The exposure to a live audience is a great opportunity for them and that’s been lost,” Baya said.
The festival which aims to preserve the fast-dwindling theatre production and audiences in the country was supposed to run under the theme Emerging Cultures.
Online Reporter