By Sam Banda Jnr:
Youthful actor and playwright Fumbani Phiri, who leads YDC Theatre, said on Tuesday the country needs to work up from its nap and lay apt foundations for theatre for children.
He made the remarks as the world today celebrates World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People, which is an annual event that takes place on March 20 across the world.
It is an initiative led by the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People (ASSITEJ) with the purpose to communicate and promote the phrase: “Take a child to the theatre, today.”
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Phiri, who has been working with Assitej on theatre for children in Malawi, called upon theatre practitioners and the country as a whole to continue advocating for the importance of theatre in the lives of children and young people.
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“With fellow youngsters, we planned to use the day to raise awareness about the power of arts in education and personal development but with some other aligned commitments, we cancelled the plan,” he said.
Phiri said children need to be encouraged to partake in theatre and also be given spaces saying they are the backbone of the creative industry.
“There is need to work on increasing access to theatre performances and workshops in schools, communities and rural areas. We need to offer training opportunities for aspiring young playwrights, directors, actors and other theatre professionals,” he said.
Phiri also called for cultural exchange programmes saying this can help broaden the horizons of children in the country and exposing them to diverse forms of theatre from around the world.
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In recent times, young people have come out to showcase their theatrical skills through platforms such as French Schools Drama Festival, National Arts Schools Festival (Nasfest) and Association of Teaching of English in Malawi (Atem).
Recently St Andrews International High School in Blantyre also staged five performances featuring a cast of young people in a William Shakespeare of the reimagined Romeo and Juliet.
National Theatre Association of Malawi (Ntam) President Maxwell Chiphinga described the World Theatre Day for Children and Young People as important for the country as far as growing theatre is the country is concerned.
“We do not have an event tomorrow (today) but as Ntam, we are encouraging parents to allow their children that have potential to partake in art including theatre and not stop them. The industry is growing and we need a supply of children as foundations,” Chiphinga said.
He said through theatre, children have a chance to tell their stories and express themselves.
Meanwhile, organisers of Easter Theatre Festival which starts on Friday through to Sunday at Jacaranda Cultural Centre in Blantyre, have said they have not left out children.
“This is the people’s festival. Children will have a stake in the festival through workshops and performances,” festival coordinator McArthur Matukuta said.
