TEDDY Mangawa has been in the theatre industry for nearly two decades as an actor, director or arts manager and has been teaching and handling many duties at the Zimbabwe Theatre Academy since 2017.
Assertively, Mangawa, who has been part of the Mitambo International Theatre Festival team since 2019, assists with programming, curation and mentorship.
For Mangawa, Mitambo International Theatre Festival, which started running on Wednesday and ends tomorrow at the Reps Theatre in Harare, is a platform where Zimbabwean stories meet the world and where artists are encouraged to imagine boldly.
Under the bold theme Redefined, the sixth edition celebrates resilience, reinvention and cultural dialogue, bringing together performances from Zimbabwe, South Africa and Spain.
With a rich line-up including Fragments of a Princess, Egoli Promise, Zandezi and SONDA, as well as dynamic panels and workshops, Mitambo 2025 not only uplifts emerging voices, but also reimagines the role of theatre in education, identity and nation building.
All performances, which include the opening ceremony, seminar on curating content and theatre production will take place in the Adrian Stanley Room at Reps Theatre.
Speaking to NewsDay Life & Style on the sidelines of the Artists Conference, which was the first activity of 6th edition of the Mitambo International Theatre Festival, Mangawa envisions a brighter future for the theatre arts industry in Zimbabwe.
He admitted that since its inception, Mitambo has grown into a distinct international festival which has brought together artists from Zimbabwe, Africa and beyond, while creating a space for important conversations about theatre practice.
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Mitambo has nurtured young talent, hosted productions that challenge and inspire, and positioned Zimbabwe as a regional hub for theatre dialogue.
One milestone Mangawa treasures is the ability of the festival to maintain relevance and energy despite the challenges the industry faces.
The conference on September 10 included Biggie Samwanda, a director in the Arts, Youth, Sports and Recreation ministry, Reps Theatre director Sue Bolt, Daniel Maphosa (arts director), Peter Churu (arts director), Simba Mudhokwani (Culture Fund) and Florence Majachani (arts consultant), who led the conversations which highlighted the need for effective use of creative spaces in order to propel a dependable creative economy.
It also highlighted that collectivism and meaningful collaboration are essential in shaping a thriving future for Zimbabwean theatre.
In line with the required developments, Samwanda encouraged thespians to lobby for more funding to enhance their productions including engaging schools and other learning institutions for co-operation.
He said in response to effective co-operation, thespians could dramatise Shona literature novels for Ordinary and Advanced Level students.
“Performances in schools and public spaces help in building a future audience as well as creating long-standing relationships,” Samwanda said.
LIoyd Nyikadzino Mitambo International Theatre Festival director said the theme Redefine was inspired by "the moment we find ourselves in as Zimbabwean theatre makers".
“After years of social, political and economic shifts, we need to constantly reshape our narratives and reimagine our spaces,” he said.
“We hope the theme sparks conversations about resilience, reinvention and the courage to look at ourselves and our society differently.”
Mangawa said this year’s line-up reflected diversity in voice, form and perspective.
“Egoli Promise offers strong Zimbabwean storytelling, Fragment of a Princess from Spain introduces a European dimension, Zandezi digs deep into Zimbabwe’s socio-political realities and SONDA from South Africa closes the festival with a bold exploration of identity and memory. Each piece brings its own energy and story, but together they create a powerful conversation across cultures,” he said.
“The Curating Content Workshop on Friday is designed mainly for emerging creatives, directors, curators and theatre makers who want to sharpen their skills in shaping and presenting work.
“It’s also relevant for established practitioners who are rethinking their approaches. Ultimately, it equips artists with tools to create theatre that resonates deeply with audiences and communities.”
The Director’s Talk on Saturday morning gives audiences and practitioners direct access to directors’ processes including their challenges, visions and inspirations.
Later that day, Ngano will take audiences on a journey into our oral traditions, blending performance with storytelling.
And the festival will close with SONDA, a vibrant and thought-provoking production that promises to leave audiences with questions and inspiration.
