NATIONAL Theatre Arts Association of Zambia (NATAAZ), after what appears like a magic charm, this year October 21 to 24 returns to the tourist capital, Livingstone for a national theatre festival at the renewed Maramba Cultural Village, confirmed the general secretary Isaac Kalumba during the week.
“With one major activity of running an annual festival, after a long spell, we  want to spice up this year’s theatre festival with site-seeing as most of our current membership has not been to Livingstone,” Isaac said acknowledging that the four-day festival is unlikely to be devoid of mature plays as individual theatre groups are already rehearsing their productions.
In a memorandum to theatre groups countrywide, the general secretary has tabularised a programme that indicates 10 plays and 10 performances beginning on October 21 with a workshop on theatre administration and other theatrical essentials and basics.
According to the itinerary the first play goes on stage at 10:00 followed by three other performances at 14:00, 17:00 and 19:00 hours.
The official opening of the festival is set for the afternoon on 22 October with the Minister of Tourism and Arts who has been invited. Before then, there would have been two performances at 08:00 and 10:00. After the Minister with a fully-packed entertainment package, theatre artistes would be invited to go on the boat excursions and more site-seeing jaunts and afterwards the day would close with the 7th performances at 19:00 hour.
According to the plans, on 23 October the day would begin with the site-seeing, subsequently at 14:00 the groups will return for the eighth to the 10th play performances at 19:30 hours. On Saturday, 24 October groups will be expected to attend the local independence anniversary celebrations, and later continue with the tours of Livingstone before returning for awards presentations at 19.30 hours with merriment and partying into the night.
Isaac said Zambian theatre once well utilised can be of great use to the general public. It has been proved that public performances often provide entertainment, but equally vital educational ingredients are on offer with a controlled feedback from members of the audience.
With sampled plays, Isaac said most of 2015 entries bear themes centered round poverty, education (lack of it), mobility and labour migration, re-entry into school for the girl child, while other drivers include vulnerability and risk factors due to lack of recreation in rural set ups such as cinemas, play parks, television and video games.
The general secretary explained that the side-line theme of the Livingstone festival was to reduce stigma early marriages and facilitate national access to education for all, and the right and correct age for those engaged in marriage.
Additionally during the festival it is viewed that local theatre groups will partner with each other; be part of the workshops that will aim at building capacity in upholding and speaking against early marriages, and lead to the attainment of increased demand for school places, and strengthen the capacity of stakeholders. Other than the theatre artists and playwrights, the media involved in the arts will be enthused to be writing against early marriages and conducting plays with related themes.
“It is anticipated that this campaign will provide the local theatre artists with the capacity to conduct similar activities in future events, and within their localities once they have left Livingstone,” Isaac said.
The general secretary added that the rescheduling of the festival from August to October follows logistic adjustments, and lack of quick responses and confirmations on various pledges, commitments hence all theatre groups eager to take part in the festival are called upon, and invited to apply IMMEDIATELY in order to be considered legible in taking part in the Livingstone theatre festival.
“We have set not later than 30 August 2015 for all due payments; affiliations, participation and membership. Failure to do so will result with some groups not travelling to Livingstone,” he said.
The festival which hugely is being supported by the Livingstone-based artists such as Ziwa Mulilo, and the department for cultural department’s Vincent Kamwanya (Livingstone District Cultural Affairs Officer) and Stephen Zimba, the Southern Provincial Affairs Officer is primed to attract 130 participants and officials.
The general secretary said due to the change on the schedule of theatre groups applying, there will be NO Provincial Festival to screen theatre groups vying for the Livingstone festival; every group, instead has been given the leeway to apply between now and end of August 2015 stating their suitability to participate in the festival.”
Details of the festival are that plays should consist of no more than 10 characters per group, and that plays that are easy bearing simple props lasting not less than 60 minutes stand a better chance of winning awards during the festival. For further additional information Isaac Kalumba can be contacted on 0955965637 or 0962000775 on Boyd Nyirenda, who is the Productions and Research Director on 0967829677.
Next week, I will peep at the machination of the School Arts Association of Zambia which has lined up a national performing and fine arts festival from 8 August 2015 in Mansa. I am sure national chairperson David Asumani will have more details during the coming week.
John.kapesa818@yahoo.co.uk – 0955-0967-0977-710975