Online Reporter
Mthabisi Tshuma
Zimpapers Entertainment Hub
ARTISTS from Spain, UK, Vietnam, Colombia, Rwanda, Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania and the United States are set to converge in Harare for the Mitambo International Theatre Festival.
They will join their Zimbabwean counterparts at the festival, which is expected to run from September 22-26.
The festival is now in its seventh edition.
Reps Theatre will host the five days of performances, workshops, professional development and cultural exchanges.
Held under the theme “Belonging”, this year’s festival will explore questions of identity, community, connection and finding a place in a rapidly changing world.
Among the festival highlights is ‘They Watched Her Die’, a Zimbabwean-South African-United States-Colombia collaboration examining witnessing, silence, complicity and responsibility. Spanish theatre company Atalaya Teatro will also bring its acclaimed production ‘La Celestina, la Tragicomedia’ to Harare, adding a major European production to the festival programme.
Other works on the programme include Becoming: From the Streets to Now, an immersive dance production exploring identity and resilience; Bazobuya, Yellow Dog Dingo, Here I Am, You Are African First Before Anything, L’autre Et Moi, How to Eat Mangoes, and Mother Doesn’t Know Mnemosyn.
The festival will also provide professional development opportunities for artists and emerging theatre-makers through workshops including The Singular Voice with Obie Award-winning artist Nikkole Salter, Where the Story Happens with Ruzibiza Wesley, What Is Love with Sonya Armaghanyan of The Postcard Theatre and a Playwriting Laboratory.
Festival Director Lloyd Nyikadzino said Mitambo was created to position Zimbabwe within a wider international theatre network while creating opportunities for artists to connect, collaborate and learn from one another.
“Mitambo was created to connect Zimbabwean and African artists with the world.
“This year’s festival gives us an opportunity to celebrate different voices, create meaningful artistic exchange and explore what belonging means in our changing world.
“The festival is expected to attract students, emerging practitioners and audiences alongside established local and international artists, providing young creatives with opportunities to gain practical experience and engage directly with professional theatre practice, production and festival management.
With participants coming from across Africa, Europe, Asia, North America and Latin America,” said Nyikadzino.”
He said Mitambo International Festival is also expected to contribute to Zimbabwe’s creative economy and cultural tourism, while opening opportunities for professional networking, skills transfer and future international collaborations.
“Since its establishment in 2019, Mitambo has developed into an international theatre platform connecting Zimbabwean and African artists with practitioners and institutions from around the world.
“Organised by the Zimbabwe Theatre Academy, the festival uses theatre to advance artistic exchange, professional development, cultural diplomacy, skills transfer and social connection,” said Nyikadzino.
Mathew Masinge