Artists Converge at the 5th Mitambo International Theatre Festival

The Mitambo International Theatre Festival is making its return for its 5th edition at Reps Theatre this week from September 26th to 30^th.

Mitambo International Theatre Festival is a space for nurturing new and emerging theatre and film talents in the southern African country and beyond. The annual festival is organised by the Zimbabwe Theatre Academy Trust.

The festival actively engages with the local community and collaborates with local artists in Zimbabwe while pushing artistic boundaries and encouraging innovation. This year the festival is inviting artists, leaders, and citizens to “converge” in celebration of humanity through theatre and art.

Mitambo International Theatre Festival which takes its name from the Shona term for “plays,” has demonstrated its commitment to celebrating and sharing the essence of theatrical expression since its inaugural edition in 2019.

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The festival continues to bring forth top-tier and up and coming local and international artists and productions fostering a vibrant theatre landscape.

Mitambo’s multidisciplinary approach ensures a celebration of cultural diversity by offering a rich spectrum of creative cultural activities in theatre, music, poetry, performance art, dance, and installations. The festival also offers enriching educational experiences through workshops and masterclasses facilitated by industry professionals across the continent and beyond.

The 5th edition will carry a solid line-up of local, regional, and international theatre creators from countries including Zimbabwe, South Africa, the United States of America, Switzerland, and the Canary Islands in Spain.

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Festival goers can expect notable performances like Percy Mtwa, Mbongeni Ngema, and Barney Simon’s 1983 political satire, Woza Albert! directed by Hamilton Dhlamini, Listen, another award-winning South African production recently showcased at the Cradle of Creativity 2023.

The festival will open with Zimbabwe Theatre Academy’s Mighty Black Woman which will be followed by many more over the days including; A Life in Her Day created and performed by Hilary Chaplain (USA), Butterfly directed by Katharina Reist featuring Benedicte Butler and Clemens Luthard (Switzerland), Feather Conversations from the Canary Islands in Spain, Finding Temeraire featuring Promise Munjoma and Farirai Clarence Borerwe (Zimbabwe), Thandolwenkosi Ndlovu’s Market Dreams presented by Bulawayo Theatre (Zimbabwe), Shuffle by Mgcini Nyoni (Zimbabwe), and among others.

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All performances will take place at different spaces at Reps theatre including the community open space with a specially designed stage at the Car Park.

For Mitambo International Theatre Festival each edition builds upon the successes and experiences of the previous ones, making it a highly anticipated cultural event in Harare and globally.

The 5^th edition of the Mitambo International Theatre Festival will run at Reps theatre in Harare from September 26th to 30th 2023. The tickets/ booking can be found at