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Jonathan Mbiriyamveka Entertainment Reporter—
Theatre in the Park will remain closed this winter to pave way for the completion of a new state-of-the art theatre venue.
Rooftop Promotions publicist Robert Tapfumaneyi yesterday confirmed the development saying they were now considering several scripts before the official reopening.
“We are not going open this winter as we want to finish all that needs to be done as you know that our new venue will be of international standards, endowed with state-of-the art facilities and this stunning venue for performing arts will also have unique conference amenities.
“And we are now going through our scripts that were submitted by different playwrights from the four corners of the country to see which play(s) will be part of our programming when we open the new venue at the end of July,” Tapfumaneyi said.
It seems after several false starts, Theatre in the Park is now headed for a genuine return.
This would be a welcome return since there has been a gap in theatre since Theatre in the Park took a break.
Although other theatre production houses like Edzai Isu have been consistent with their plays somewhere away from the park, there was no replacement for Theatre in the Park.
Attempts by the likes of Peter Churu and Silvanos Mudzvova to provide alternative programmes at venues in the city centre were unfruitful as they only hosted a few productions.
Some plays have been staged at the University of Zimbabwe but the location of the venue does not offer accessibility to the public as was the case with the Harare Gardens venue.
Rooftop Promotions’ haggling with Zimbabwe International Book Fair in 2012 over the theatre venue led to the closure of Theatre in the Park and the producers have been promising to get a new venue for the programme.
Initially it appeared the organisers would secure a new venue at the beginning of 2013 in time for a new theatre season but that was not the case.
The Harare Gardens gazebo that used to be a hive of activity whenever there was a play run became desolate.
Every year, several plays were staged in the gazebo showcasing new and upcoming talents as Rooftop director Daves Guzha steered the programme .
Online Reporter