In a bid to put the local theatre scene on the international spotlight, United States-based Zimbabwean actress and playwright Danai Gurira and local theatre producer and director Patience Tawengwa, have launched a project titled Almasi Collaborative Arts.
The theatre initiative, which was launched in the country recently, seeks to link local theatre practitioners and their international counterparts in exchange programmes aimed at creating international productions.
My purpose is to give back something to the arts industry in Zimbabwe and contribute to its development, said Gurira.
I have been exposed to international productions and I am willing to impart my knowledge to upcoming artists as well as assist experienced artists develop their careers further.
She said she had great hope and belief in the potential of the Zimbabwean artist, adding such potential needed to be honed and developed and then given platform to shine.
Gurira was in the country late last year to work on a local production of her award-winning play titled In the Continuum that was staged at Theatre in the Park and other venues in commemoration of World Aids Day. She worked with Tawengwa on the production.
Through last years production, it became very clear to us that there was need to use our connections to have an alternative theatre platform that can take the art to another level and that resulted in the birth of Almasi Arts, said Tawengwa.
She said they had been honoured and privileged to have received fruitful advice from the late theatre guru, Walter Muparutsa, over the founding of Almasi.
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Gurira also added that Muparutsa who was her uncle was a source of strength, courage and wisdom in most projects she had done. She said forming the organisation was also a way of recognising the great contribution he made to the arts in the country.
Besides facilitating exchange programmes, the organisation will also spearhead local productions and impart skills to aspiring artists locally.
We focus on development and we will host a number of workshops, reading series, and extensive rehearsal processes, to ensure that the work that is finally put before a paying audience has received every bit of care and attention possible, said Tawengwa.
Gurira said it was time for Zimbabwean dramatic artists to have the type of standing and recognition globally and gave examples of African productions like Wole Soyinkas Death and a Kings Horseman, or John Kani and Winston Ntshonas Sizwe Banzi is Dead, that made impact internationally.
It is time for Zimbabwean artists to produce works of unquestionable excellence. This can only be obtained through fearless creativity, relentless hard work, determination and thorough development, she said.
She said local artists were not supposed to feel threatened by those who came to impart knowledge from other countries but instead welcome them, exchange methodologies and also embrace new ideas and ways to refine the arts.
As long as we think competing is better than collaboration we will never excel. Winners in life collaborate and work together for a single objective.
The first production from Almasi in the country is an award-winning play titled Eclipsed that will be staged at Reps Theatre.
Eclipsed is a five-women play about the Liberian civil war and will be directed by Zane Lucas and produced by Reps Theatre in conjunction with Almasi Collaborative Arts.
It will be the first of many productions, but will showcase one of our key policies. We will not have a play each month as is the norm with most local production houses because it is impossible for us to develop a piece of dramatic literature that will stand the test of time in such a compressed time span, said Gurira.
The local theatre scene has been dominated by male practitioners, but the launch of Almasi is likely to give a new dimension and gender balance to local theatre.
