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March 27 in Harare.
Announcing the programme which includes discussion on the state of theatre in Zimbabwe, theatre performance, play reading, music, dance and poetry performances in Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Masvingo, Karoi, Kadoma and Marondera.
The ITI (Zimbabwe Centre) co-ordinator, Lloyd Nyikadzino, said: “Theatre should be appreciated by our society. The role it plays in peace-building and conflict resolution cannot be overlooked.
“This month has been designated to celebrate theatre in its various forms and how it assists in bringing people together. More than anything there is need to reaffirm people’s appreciation of the healing power of theatre by allowing voices to speak, the way it can shape people’s opinions and how it brings together people from different backgrounds.”
Nyikadzino’s views on theatre echo very much the views of Irina Bokova, the Unesco director-general, who in her remarks on the occasion of 51st anniversary of the World Theatre Day said: “Theatre has the power to move, inspire, transform and educate in ways that no other art form can.
“Theatre reflects both the extraordinary diversity of culture and our shared human condition, in all its vulnerability and strength.”
The theatre activities began on March 4 with an online discussion on the ITI (Zimbabwe Centre) Facebook page. Play readings which were scheduled for the week included Blessing Hungwe’s “When Angels Weep”; Chipawo’s “The Most Wonderful Thing” and Shakespeare’s “Tempest”.
Discussions planned for the month are on topics formulated in line with what has been happening in theatre in Zimbabwe and the outside conditions that affect the working conditions for theatre practitioners such as “Producing Theatre in Zimbabwe” led by Patience Tawengwa on March 11 at the Book Cafe; and “Promoting Theatre Arts in Zimbabwe” led by the National Arts Council on March 14.
A play reading and review of high school musical was scheduled to take place the Harare International School while on the March 18 theatre discussions will be held at Midlands State University.
The discussion will feature Ruth Makumbirofa, Raisedon Baya and Nehemiah Chivandikwa. In Karoi the theatre event will be the reading and review of two plays .
Two theatre discussion are scheduled at the United States Public Affair in Bulawayo on March 21 featuring Mgoni Nyoni, Julia Yule and Ephrain Vhutuza and in Harare on the March 22 while on the March 25, a theatre discussion at Africa University in Mutare will feature Dr Samuel Ravengai of the University of Zimbabwe, Daniel Maposa of Savannah Trust and Daves Guzha of Rooftop Promotions.
In the event to commemorate the 51st anniversary of the World Theatre Day on March 27 in Harare, Savannah Trust will present Mcendisi Shabangu’s “Half Empty/Half Full”. The theatre event’s programme, which will be hosted by the comedian of the moment Carl Joshua Ncube, will include reading by Nothando Nobengula of the 2013 World Theatre Day Message to be written by Dario Fo — the Italian satirist, playwright, theatre director, actor, composer and recipient of the 1997 NobelPrize for Literature
The programme will also include poetry performance by various poets, a dance performance by the National Ballet and a musical performance by the young songbird Hope Masike.
The Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture has been invited as guest of honour to speak at the occasion and to interface with members of the arts and culture sector who include “theatre veterans, representatives of performing arts organisations,                                       festival directors and managers, theatre practitioners and theatre lovers”.
Amakhosi Cultural Centre in Bulawayo will again this year hold a colloquium on theatre in Zimbabwe featuring presentation by thespians from different parts of the country and theatre scholars from different universities to mark the World Theatre Day.

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