By Sam Banda Jnr:
Solomonic Peacocks, organisers of the Easter Theatre Festival said yesterday they were set for the fifth edition to be held at Jacaranda Cultural Centre (JCC) in Blantyre from March 22 to 24 2024.
The theatre group led by its director McArthur Matukuta said this on the 13th of February at JCC in Blantyre during a press briefing.
Matukuta said the festival this year promises more goodies in that it will feature 12 countries including hosts Malawi with 41 performers offering theatre, poetry, standup-comedy, storytelling and dance among other art disciplines.
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“We want more people to patronise the festival this year just like they did last year. This is a unique festival dedicated to theatre in the country,” he said of the festival, which will run under the theme ‘Your talent matters, create, inspire, enjoy towards 2063’.
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Matukuta, who is also an actor and playwright, said this year’s theme is derived from the festival’s core values, which are zero segregation, inclusivity, integration, equity and equality.
He said that this year’s Easter Theatre Festival is special in that Solomonic Peacocks is also commemorating its 25th anniversary.
“Easter Theatre Festival has played a crucial role in making sure that Malawi benefits from everything that we do. So, apart from propelling theatre and offering entertainment, we are promoting tourism to boost the economy and this is art tourism or creative tourism.
“We are bringing foreign exchange with performers from France, Germany, Portugal, South Africa, eSwatini, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Tanzania,” he said.
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Solomonic Peacocks is expected to hold two performances during the festival including a collaboration with Kwathu Drama Group.
During the press conference, artists from Germany and France promised thrills and that they were geared to learn from local artists and at the same time, also share their artistry.
“Its exciting to be back again for Easter Theatre Festival. I enjoyed the moments last year and looking forward to this year. Last year I learned that artists are not getting the respect they deserve and so, I will be holding a workshop on marketing,” Annedore Smith from Germany, said.
JCC Director and French Honorary Consul to Malawi Luc Deschamps said Solomonic Peacocks has been a good partner for them in staging the Easter Theatre Festival over the years.
“This is the third time we are hosting the festival, we believe in theatre, we believe in creativity and power of theatre in young people, which they are using as a vehicle to tackle various issues affecting society,” he said.
Deschamps also said this year’s Easter Theatre Festival will see a performance of a French group known as Compaigne du Hasard.
“This is an established theatre group that is bringing a play titled Odyssey. The group has also received support from French Embassy in South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi. They are also set to tour and hold performances in some schools to promote theatre for free,” Deschamps said.
Other artists performing this year include Dikamawoko Troupe, Young Travellers Theatre, YDC, New Beginning Arts, Africa Dance Group from Tanzania, Patsime Trust from Zimbabwe, Catarina Mota from Portugal, Women in Theatre and Bodies Unbound from Rwanda.
