Online ReporterMthabisi Tshuma
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
THE sixth edition of the Mitambo Theatre International Festival is set to get underway next month and promises to be a vibrant celebration of storytelling, cultural dialogue and artistic innovation.
Running under the theme “Redefine,” the event will be held at Reps Theatre from September 11 to 13. It was established in 2019 by the Zimbabwe Theatre Academy.
The 2025 programme features a dynamic blend of local and international content, including: Capacity Building Trainings in Mbare and Highfield, Hybrid Conference: Curtains Up on the Creative Economy, Workshop on festival curating and producing, Festival Opening & Networking Event.
Some of the theatre plays to expect are Egoli Promise ; A complete multidisciplinary arts project; Fragments of a Princess (Spain – Maria La Culpa); Zandezi (Zimbabwe); All Gone (South Africa) and Early Years Theatre Performance: Sandscape.
The festival director Lloyd Nyikadzino said preparations are going on well and they anticipate a major revival of the festival.
“We have started preparing for the event.
“The festival was created to connect local theatre practitioners and productions with regional and international audiences.
“It has since grown into a dynamic platform grounded in cultural exchange, cultural diplomacy, and free expression.
“Since it’s inception, the festival has hosted more than 50 productions from 24 countries, creating a unique space for global artistic collaboration.
“The festival offers not just performances, but also capacity-building workshops, conferences, and community outreach aimed at empowering emerging voices and promoting theatre as a tool for education, social impact, and economic development,” said Nyikadzino.
He said the festival will be filled with various activities meant to boost the country’s film sector.
“This year’s edition has been made possible through generous support from the European Union, particularly through the CreativeACTIONs2 project implemented by The Culture Fund, in partnership with Reps Theatre, the Spanish Embassy, the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, and the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture.
“As Mitambo returns for its sixth edition, festival organisers reaffirm their commitment to showcasing bold and relevant theatre, while fostering a strong global network of artistic exchange. For theatre lovers, artistes and cultural enthusiasts, the 2025 Mitambo International Theatre Festival is a not-to-be-missed celebration of performance and possibility,” said Nyikadzino.
