Almasi Collaborative Arts is launching its high-octane, community-centred 2026 calendar with one of its signature programmes — the Staged Reading.
On Saturday, February 14, at 2:30pm, Almasi will host a free public staged reading of A Raisin in the Sun at the Friendship Bench Hub in Harare.
Directed by Leonard Matsa, the reading features a dynamic blend of veteran Almasi collaborators and emerging talent.
The cast includes Daniel Nkumalo, Evita Mahachi, Deborah Kabongo, Charlene Mangweni-Furusa, Godblessus Dhliwayo, Chiedza Matabuka, Ronald Sigeca, Aaron Dobi, Clive Jonga and Michael Kudakwashe.
The production forms part of Almasi’s rigorous pursuit of dramatic literacy, aimed at sharpening the craft of African artists.
The development process began with a two-day intensive dramaturgical workshop led by Almasi’s programmes director, Gideon Jeph Wabvuta.
The session brought together the cast, director and a cohort of Almasi-trained directors and playwrights to interrogate the text’s themes, structure and historical context before transitioning into a focused rehearsal process.
Matsa described the play as enduring and deeply resonant.
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“A Raisin in the Sun is a timeless and universally relevant play,” said Matsa.
“It reminds us that in the midst of overwhelming adversities, including class struggles, hope is all we have and need.
“It is the fuel that drives existence. When all seems lost, our integrity remains our last line of salvation.”
Written by Lorraine Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun was the first play by a black female playwright to be staged on Broadway.
Its title is drawn from Langston Hughes’ seminal poem Harlem, which famously asks, “What happens to a dream deferred?”
The story follows a Black family on the South Side of Chicago as they navigate housing discrimination, systemic racism and assimilation while awaiting a life-changing insurance payout.
Named Best Play of 1959 by the New York Drama Critics’ Circle, it remains a permanent fixture on lists of the greatest plays ever written.
For Almasi, staging the reading is not merely about revisiting a classic, but about engaging Zimbabwean audiences and artists in global conversations around race, class, dignity and aspiration — themes that resonate across continents.
Co-founded by executive artistic director Danai Gurira, Almasi Collaborative Arts is a Harare-based organisation dedicated to promoting dramatic literacy.
By providing world-class education, access and opportunity, the institution continues to empower African creatives to refine their craft and bring their unique narratives to the global stage.
With its 2026 season now underway, Almasi once again signals its commitment to nurturing thoughtful, socially conscious theatre — beginning with a masterpiece that continues to ask urgent questions about dreams, dignity and the price of hope.
