Theatre creatives speak out on World Theatre Day
Friday
Theatre makers Monday celebrated World Theatre Day with a call to the nation to begin to appreciate and value its contribution.
Associate Professor Zindaba Chisiza from the University of Malawi said it was his hope and dream that more people begin to appreciate and value the contribution that theatre has made and continues to make to the country.
“Through this appreciation, may theatre grow and develop to its fullest potential,” Zindaba said.
Tawonga Taddja Nkhonjera, who starred in a one-act piece titled Kapka’s Ape premiered on Friday at Madsoc Theatre in Lilongwe, said theatre was going in the right direction in terms of growing numbers of theatre ensembles and companies, and, in turn, the number of plays produced in a year.
He however, observed that the sector is yet to get a handle on how to maximise theatre as an entertainment product that will attract audiences in the same vein as other art forms such as music.
“Theatre is challenging; there is definitely a market for it and, as theatre makers, we need to exploit it fully. I feel we do not offer much entertainment to these younger citizens of our country, hence we do not foster and nurture the culture of theatre in them as a young age,” Nkhonjera said, adding that he plans to produce one or two plays for children and younger audiences.
Actress and filmmaker Flora Suya said theatre needs to be celebrated and embraced, describing it as an art form where one finds the true meaning of art.
“I love the adrenaline when I am prepared to go on stage. It is very unfortunate that out there theatre is not as vibrant as it used to be during the times of late Du Chisiza Jr and Gertrude Kamkwatira but a lot of people are coming up but their efforts are not recognised and appreciated,” Suya said.
While some quarters have said theatre is ‘dead’, Suya said “we should all feel responsible for its demise”.
Lilongwe-based actress and filmmaker Joyce Mhango Chavula saluted theatre makers for their work, saying it continues to help in the country’s development.
“Theatre is inspiring; it is hard to put into words the feeling one gets on stage, it is the experience that really counts.
Solomonic Peacocks Director McArthur Matukuta said Monday they were devoted to elevate theatre in the country, hence creating the Easter Theatre Festival, whose fourth edition runs from March 31 to April 2 2023 at Jacaranda Cultural Centre in Blantyre under the theme ‘Everyone Counts’.
“We join the world in commemorating World Theatre Day and that is why today (Monday) we have released Easter Theatre Festival programme to show that there will be maximum entertainment,” Matukuta said.
National Theatre Association of Malawi President Maxwell Chiphinga, popularly known as Max DC, called upon people to support theatre for it to progress.
World Theatre Day was initiated in 1962 by the International Theatre Institute and is celebrated worldwide to promote the significance of theatrical forms. It comes barely seven days after the world celebrated the World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People.
