• About us
  • Contribute Content
  • Donate
Tuesday, June 28, 2022
  • Login
  • Register
The African Theatre Magazine
  • Home
    • About us
    • Our Team
    • Contact Us
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • People
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
The African Theatre Magazine
  • Home
    • About us
    • Our Team
    • Contact Us
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • People
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
The African Theatre Magazine
No Result
View All Result

Highs and Lows at Mitambo International Theatre Festival

Takudzwa Chihambakwe by Takudzwa Chihambakwe
November 5, 2019
in Reviews
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterWhatsapp

Despite a few challenges, the organisers of Mitambo International Theatre Festival managed to pull off the first edition. Staging a theatre festival in an environment where majority of the people do not have much disposable income due to a tough, austere economic environment was always going to be a difficult task for the organisers of the inaugural Mitambo International Theatre Festival that concluded on October 12th.

Besides the money woes, attracting theatregoers has been a major issue over the past three years with the numbers only spiking once in a while when a production that strongly resonates with the masses is staged, as was the case with the 2018 banger, Operation Restore Regasi.

Mitambo International Theatre Festival organisers were not spared by these issues. Attendances were so low that in some incidences shows were cancelled. One of the organisers, Teddy Mangava confirmed that indeed, low ticket sales caused shows to be cancelled.  “The ancestral Bible from South Africa was cancelled because one of the performers fell sick. On the Indian play, the director called off two performances due to low ticket sales,” he shared.

One of the Performances at the Festival
One of the Performances at the Festival

The venues that were away from town coupled with the ever soaring transport fares did not help the situation either. It cost a good $6 Zimbabwe dollars to just get to the venue and one was expected to pay the same back into town. This caused a number of people to change their minds about attending the festival.

Mangava however defended the choice of venues, “The choice of the venues was strategic. In as much as the Reps Theatre and University of Zimbabwe are a bit far in terms of commuting, to counter that we engaged and partnered with Jasen Mpepo Little Theatre. We didn’t get much audiences as we expected but the turnout was good” he said.

See also: Tswalo is a Riveting and Unforgettable Theatrical Experience!

It also seemed like there was no buzz about the festival amongst citizens with only the actors and other artists involved in the festival aware of it. “Regards marketing, we did what we could. We utilized digital marketing and other promotional strategies but henceforth we are looking forward to engage a fulltime marketing person,” Mangava said.

Lloyd Nyikadzino the other brain behind the festival conceded, “We need to engage more with media houses, government departments and also the artists visiting through their embassies as some shows were not full house whilst others were. I think the marketing factor is a collaborative effort between us the host and the visiting artists,”

One of the performers at the Festival
One of the performers at the Festival

But, despite these woes, the festival created a platform for unknown youngsters in the genre to emerge. It was quite refreshing to see the young actors exploding on the stage – with majority of them exuding high quality with promise to blossom into inimitable theatre stars.

Another great factor was the number of fresh productions that were showcased. This showed that theatre is still alive in Zimbabwe. “We managed to create a platform for six new Zimbabwean shows to have their world premieres, of which two were our own from the Zimbabwe Theatre Academy,” reflected Nyikadzino.

“We have a lot of stories to tell. People just need the platform and structure to do so. It has become evident that if appropriately curated and sustained, the festival can play a complimentary, contributing and promoting the role of culture in sustainable human development,” he added.

Asked what his major lesson was from this inaugural edition, Nyikadzino responded, “We have appreciated that with timely preparation and commitment, no dream is too big to be attained. We have learnt that, you cannot run such events single-handedly; you need support systems which include friends, and donors who believe in the collective idea.”

Indeed, with lessons from the first edition and the plans, we can look forward to a bigger and better second edition next year.

 

Takudzwa Chihambakwe

Takudzwa Chihambakwe

Takudzwa Chihambakwe is a passionate arts journalist who has been tracking and documenting Zimbabwe's arts and culture events since 2013. In 2015 he started covering theatre stories and since then he has grown to be a critic and avid fan of the genre.

Related Posts

Tonderai Munyevu’s Mugabe, My Dad & Me (photos by Jane Hobson)
Features

In Tonderai Munyevu’s Mugabe, My Dad & Me, the Personal Becomes the Political

March 18, 2022
170
Blood Knot by Athol Fugard directed by James Ngcobo.(Photos by Siphiwe Mhlambi)
Reviews

Blood Knot, A 60-Year-Old Message

December 19, 2021
114
The Red On The Rainbow written and directed by Monageng 'Vice' Motshabi (Photos provided by Soweto Theatre)
Reviews

The Red On The Rainbow, A Brave and Important Play

December 10, 2021
215
Next Post
Dalma Chiwereva

My Ability to Dance and Sing has Played a Big Role in my Career - Dalma

What people are saying

More Reads

  • People
  • Opinion
  • Festivals
  • Reviews
ADVERTISEMENT

Popular Reads

  • Uganda's Theatre pioneer Elvania Namukwaya Zirimu

    Uganda’s Elvania Namukwaya who Broke the Glass Ceiling of Theatre

    887 shares
    Share 623 Tweet 110
  • Robert Serumaga: The Pantheon of Uganda’s Theatre in the ‘70s

    304 shares
    Share 122 Tweet 76
  • Namasagali College: How the School Became Uganda’s Arts Hub

    494 shares
    Share 328 Tweet 69
  • 10 Masterpieces in Ugandan Theatre

    658 shares
    Share 492 Tweet 69
  • Rose Mbowa of ‘Mother Uganda’ and Her Theatre

    400 shares
    Share 255 Tweet 61

Follow us on Twitter

Tweets by @AfriTheatreMag

FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM

  • #ActingTip : Get ready to have fun and don’t be scared to look a bit silly.#TheatreInAfrica
  • Kenya International Theatre Festival  #KITFEST2022 Call for participation 📢#KITFEST 7th edition will be held from 1st November – 13th November, 2022 at the Kenya National Theatre.Visit: kitfest.co.ke/participation/# to apply!Deadline: 30th June, 2022The African Theatre Magazine
#TheatreInAfrica
#KITFEST2022
  • Call for ApplicationsTebere Arts Foundation’s applications for the Mid Career and Established Playwrights Residence 2023 Are Now Open.To apply please follow the link - https://t.co/BBeQiQRnr9
  • Yale Drama Series Playwriting Competition for Emerging PlaywrightsThe Yale Drama Series is seeking submissions for its 2023 playwriting competition. The winning play will be selected by the series’ current judge, Jeremy O. Harris. The winner of this annual competition will be awarded the David Charles Horn Prize of $10,000, publication of their manuscript by Yale University Press, and a celebratory event. The prize and publication are contingent on the playwright’s agreeing to the terms of the publishing agreement.Requirements:There is no entry fee. Please follow these guidelines in preparing your manuscript:This contest is restricted to plays written in the English language. WORLDWIDE SUBMISSIONS ACCEPTED.Submissions must be original, unpublished full-length plays, with a minimum of 65 pages. Plays with less than 65 pages will not be considered. Translations, musicals, and children’s plays are not accepted.The Yale Drama Series is intended to support emerging playwrights. Playwrights may win the competition only once.Playwrights may submit only one manuscript per year. Only manuscripts authored by one playwright are eligible.Plays that have been professionally produced or published are not eligible. Plays that have had a workshop, reading, or non-professional production or that have been published as an actor’s edition will be considered.Plays may not be under option, commissioned, or scheduled for professional production or publication at the time of submission.Plays must be typed/word-processed and page-numbered.The Yale Drama Series reserves the right to reject any manuscript for any reason.The Yale Drama Series reserves the right of the judge to not choose a winner for any given year of the competition and reserves the right to determine the ineligibility of a winner, in keeping with the spirit of the competition, and based upon the accomplishments of the author.Deadline: 15th August 2022How to Apply: Visit this website for all the rules and submission guidelines: https://yalebooks.yale.edu/yale-drama-series-rules-and-submission-guidelines/
  • This week the African Theatre #ArtistSpotlight is on Aguibou Bougobali Sanou a dancer, choreographer and director of In-Out Dance Festival in Burkina Faso 🇧🇫#TheatreInBurkinafaso 🇧🇫
#TheatreInAfrica
  • Did you Know ?#TheatreInAfrica
#AtholFugard
  • Call for Entries -  For the 5th Beeta Playwright Competition. ( For Nigerians 🇳🇬 )Theme: “OUR STORIES OUR VOICES”Win 1.5m in prizes, get your play published and produced !Nigerian playwrights between the ages of 18-40 are encouraged to apply.Entry closes on 30th June 2022.For more information, please visit www.beetauniveral.org.Cc Beeta Universal Arts FoundationThe African Theatre Magazine
#TheatreInNigeria 🇳🇬
#TheatreInAfrica
  • #AfricanTheatreSpaces This week we take a look at the Ebunjan Theatre 🇬🇲The Ebunjan Theatre is the first professional theatre space in Gambia, it was officially opened in 2011 by one of Gambia’s most  prolific award-winning playwrights and founder Janet Badjan-Young.Located in Banjul opposite the Gambia Football Association House, Ebunjan theatre was established with the aim of finding, grooming, preserving and exposing Gambia’s talent to the rest of the world through performing Arts.The Ebunjan Theatre is a large dome shaped structure which houses an auditorium and a balcony with a capacity of 300. The theatre also has an Art gallery, dressing rooms and a roof terrace.The Ebunjan Theatre hosts plays, poetry, dance, music, comedy, and cultural shows, workshops, award ceremonies. It has hosted  productions like; Gabriel Robert’s The Trial of Busumbala (2012), Wole Soyinka’s The Trial of Brother Jero (2012), Mystical Strings (2012), The Alien King by Mohammed Ben Abdallah (2013), D.M Larson’s Beauty Is A Beast (2014) directed by Sheriff Manneh, Women Of Owu by Femi Osofisan (2014), Janet Badjan-young’s A fatal Mistake, Let There Be Light (2015), Backway The Desperate Route To Babylon written and directed by Janet Badjan-Young (2016), A Raisin in The Sun (2017), Ngugi Wa Thiong
  • You can support that theatre close to you by purchasing tickets 🎟 🎟, and attend shows that are running this weekend.Have a great weekend!The African Theatre Magazine
#SupportTheatreArts
#TheatreInAfrica
  • Call For Participation 📢مهرجان الإسكندرية المسرحي الدولي/Alexandria International Theater Festival 12th Edition‎Performing Arts Companies, Groups, Independent Companies, Theater Makers and Artists! Are invited to participate in the 12th edition of Alexandria International Theater Festival -Theater Without Fund‎The festival will take place from 24-29 September , 2022, in Alexandria, Egypt.‎Application deadline: June 30, 2022, selected performances will be notified on July 5, 2022.Application forms 👉🏼 : https://bit.ly/3xZWME0For inquiries: Email: theaterwithoutfund@gmail.com
Phone and WhatsApp: (+2) 01553493449 (Ahmed Samir)The African Theatre Magazine
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

Become a partner/Sponsor our work. Email tuvugafritheatre@gmail.com

© 2019 - The African Theatre Magazine - Developer.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • People
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Donate

© 2019 - The African Theatre Magazine - Developer.

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Facebook
Sign In with Google
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Sign Up with Facebook
Sign Up with Google
OR

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Donate
Contribute