Join World Theatre Map, Misheck Mzumara tells fellow artists
After starring in a play Tales of A Migrant at HS Winehouse in Blantyre on Friday, actor and drama lecturer at Mzuzu University, Misheck Mzumara took time out to engage fellow artists on the World Theatre Map.
Mzumara, who performed on Friday alongside his wife Maureen and Mphundu Mjumira, met fellow artists the following day at Museum of Malawi.
The actor said the World Theatre Map is a platform open to artists in the world and thus asked the country’s artists to be part of it.
The World Theatre Map is known worldwide and that it is a user-generated digital directory and real time map of the global theatre community.
Mzumara has since been appointed the World Theatre Map Ambassador for Malawi.
“As an ambassador I am calling upon artists in the country to join this platform for free. This is a forum where you can get connected to all theatre makers from all over the world,” he said.
Mzumara said on this forum, artists create their profiles of their drama groups or organisations.
“Once you create a profile, it will immediately become a part of the searchable directory. Artists can add information about shows they have worked on or will be working on. Show profiles will display all of the production history,” he explained.
He also said artists can search the ever growing directory to discover and connect to organisations, people, shows and events.
“There is also a lot of vital information concerning theatre. This information comes from theatre makers from all over the world and Malawian artists can contribute to this information,” Mzumara said.
The actor then encouraged theatre artists to participate in the World Theatre Map by also writing essays about theatre where they could earn money ranging from $ 50 to $150.
He revealed that as of now 30 theatre artists and groups have joined the forum.
The World Theatre Map was launched in January 2017 and its founders are Vijay Mathew, who is a cultural strategist.
Mzumara has since indicated that he will also engage artists and hold presentations on World Theatre Map in Zomba, Lilongwe and Mzuzu.
On Tales of A Migrant play, which initially was a one-act play but has been redone to bring in two other acts, Mzumara said this is a story that has so many lessons. “Thoko Kapiri wrote this production following his visit to South Africa when there were xenophobic attacks.
“Today, several Malawians still trek to South Africa in search of greener pastures but sometimes the grass is not always greener,” he said.
A vibrant writer who gives a great insight on hot topics and issues
