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Senior Arts Reporter
Zimbabwe today joins the rest of the world in commemorating World Theatre Day for Children and Young People with local celebrations set for this weekend at Theatre in the Park in Harare.

More than 80 countries which are members of the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People (ASSITEJ) including CHIPAWO will commemorate the day, which is running under the theme “Take a Child to the Theatre”.

The day has been set as part of National Theatre Week by National Arts Council of Zimbabwe with many events taking place across the country.

The week begins today and runs until March 27, which is World Theatre Day. During the week, the youngsters will interact with renowned theatre practitioners as the country celebrates talent across age groups.

In an interview, CHIPAWO manager Chipo Basopo said all is set for the celebrations with more than 20 organisations, schools and clubs taking part.

“The week is being celebrated through collaboration of CHIPAWO, ITI Zimbabwe, Theatre in the Park, University of Zimbabwe and ASSITEJ Zimbabwe. NACZ facilitated the creation of a taskforce which has been working towards the celebrations with Wadzanai Chiuriri leading the World Poetry Day which is on tomorrow (March 21), and Lloyd Nyikadzino working with University of Zimbabwe for World Theatre Day for professionals,” she said.

She said during the celebrations children will show their love for theatre while exhibiting how organisations and drama clubs are acquiring different theatre skills.

“Having children engage in theatre is a good way of enabling them to communicate with each other, to exchange views and experiences. The World Theatre Day for Children and Young People message by ASSITEJ President Yvette Hardie will be read on the day by young people,” she said.

Hardie said theatre is always about transformation.

“Its capacity to transform a space of ordinariness and even crisis, into a place where the imagination is activated and unexpected possibilities unfold, is unique. It offers a moment in which children can experience powerful social change in action,” said Hardie.

She said, as practitioners focused on innovative practice in theatre for young audiences, they would exhibit how the genre can bring about truly transformational experiences — wherever it can find an audience — and to make these a reality.

Many other activities are lined up by professional theatre practitioners to support the young ones in the genre. It will be a week of exchanging ideas and celebrating the beauty of theatre as the world builds up to World Theatre Day for professionals.