Harare unveils its talent

Tafadzwa Zimoyo Entertainment Reporter
After a successful auditioning, more than a dozen acts will tomorrow take to the stage at Harare’s Reps Theatre for the eighth annual showcase for current and aspiring performers, Harare’s Got Talent.

The show which was launched in 2007, has since given more than 200 performers an opportunity to showcase their talents and get a foot on the first run of the ladder in the local arts and entertainment scene.

The show will feature a line-up of 25 acts, including singers, singing groups, dancers and dance groups, as well as a mime act and a poetry reader.

According to Repetory Players chairperson Sue Bolt, the participants will only perform once and judges will give personalised feedback after every three acts.

“At the end of the evening, judges will assemble to select the top three acts, during which the guest singer, Mande Snyman, will perform. Mande is a Reps regular who has appeared in several musical shows and who also sings on the local arts and entertainment circuit. Her style is pop and soft rock, with a heavy infusion of country music,” she said.

She said judges will be revealed at the show.

“The line-up of judges is not publicised so that they cannot be approached by any performers in advance, and this makes the entire event wholly free and fair,” she said.

Bolt said the country is full of talent which needs to be exposed.

“Harare is packed with performance talent of all kinds and we are excited to host yet another show in which new faces come forward to share their specific are of talent with audiences,” she said.

She said was happy with the cooperate how they are supporting since its initiative.

“The show will be a chance for some of that talent to be seen and we hope there is a good audience to see these singers, dancers, mime artistes and poetry readers. Support for the show this year has come with sponsorship from Brands Africa, Africa Albida Tourism and Mashonaland Holdings, whose participation has enabled the show to take place and has brought about a $300 cash prize for the act named first overall in the contest by the panel of judges,” she said.

She urged locals to come in their numbers to support the participants.

“We would like to encourage the locals to come and support the performers. By doing this, we shall increase the pool of talent on the local scene, and further encourage aspiring performers to make themselves better known,” said Bolt.

Past winners of the show include solo singers, a choir, dance groups and singing groups.

Last year’s winner, Act Muronzi, will open this year’s show. After winning HGT in January last year, he went on to perform in a number of Reps shows and is keen to make his name on the local entertainment scene.

However, Reps will this year be staging several exciting musical shows, and is constantly looking for new faces.

Among the line-up this year are The Dirty Dancing story, to run in March, Oliver! And The Rocky Horror Show, as well as the annual pantomime.