THE planned performance of Game Over, a play by Chingola Arts Society (CAS) failed last weekend because of weaknesses associated with amateur theatre.
I arrived at CAS with Chila Chama, the club secretary of Mufulira Arts Society hoping to watch the premiere of Game Over – I always fancy new plays, and was hugely enthusiastic.
In the absence of the performance I had a lengthy discussion with CAS’ new vice chairperson James Malama, director of Game Over Elias Chabushiku and actress Memory Mwansa.
My discussions with these people were not meant to blame anyone but rather to come up with useful information that could lead to successful preparations.
Primarily, CAS chairperson-cum-playwright and productions manager, Evans Kalandanya assumed the actress in the play had been taken ill.
The director of the play insinuated his cast and play were ready before unexpected problems led to the cancellation.
James Malama who eschewed to disclose the extent of the play’s preparations, saying he was not part of the cast or crew, and that, his committee was planning big for all those wishing to produce plays at CAS, and Game Over was one such play his team was fully supporting.
In my conversation with Malama, he explained what the Kalandanya-led team was up against in making efforts to facelift CAS, put up a security wall, paint the club and mend the falling roofing in the auditorium.
Disagreeing with James Malama and his team would not be wise, if only this team can achieve what is in their heads, CAS and the rest of the theatre fraternity will be very grateful.
I will be one of those to support them as; similarly, I will be the first to throw a stone should they miscarry!
I later spoke to Memory Mwansa, the 24-year-old whose acting spans only six years, but is as talented as anything. This girl went to Kabundi Primary School, then Sekela Secondary School – after acting in Innocent Blood and Naked Truth all by David Malimba and Alick Chileshe’s My Angel at Sekela, she opted to join CAS and freelanced with Sotambe Cultural Ensemble in Chingola.
Memory, who is a good traditional dancer too, is the second child of the late Justine Chanda and Josephine Mwansa who aspires to reach the top in her acting career.
Her older sister Precious is a teacher in Kapiri Mposhi.
Independently running  a hair salon besides theatre in Chingola, Memory is one of those dependable players at CAS, and has already played lead roles the last two years in Let Fools Die by Evans Kalandanya, Wounded Buffalo by Alick Chileshe, and now Game Over in addition to the forthcoming attraction Delilah by Alick Chileshe.
Memory, whose idols are CAS’ Helen Mapipo, lady Di in the television series Kabanana (Phenny Walubita) and the Nigerian actress Yvonne Nelson, said, “I want the Government to appreciate and support theatre, so that someday, some of us can dream of taking it up as a gainful job,” she said amid chuckles that she wishes to see CAS develop a better policy of supporting casts.
Written by Evans Kalandanya, Game Over is the first play under the new leadership at CAS as well as one that opens this year’s annual calendar. A simple drama with three characters, Game Over is a privy and contemporary story.
Featuring Victor Musamba as Nsunga, Brave Chisala, a faithful from Kitwe who commutes to and from Chingola for rehearsals plays Aku, while Memory is the shrewd Valencia.
In my view, the shortcomings associated with productions at theatre clubs are unfortunate; there is every need for a broad understanding of every role from producer to actor, stage crew to director – overlooking any of these weakens the spirit of group work and leads to total failure.
Producing a play is not easy. One needs to be focused and ready; a producer picks up a worthy script, approaches a director, casts the play and looks forward to observing the logistical preparations.
The director’s role is to merely instruct for movement, direction and further working with the cast, whose simple role, is to exhibit their best of abilities on stage.
Once rehearsals are done with, the producer should return to approve for the public display before marketing can seriously commence.
It’s the producer who should alert the management of the club about the preparedness of his play and call for endorsement, support and collaboration.
However, in between the play’s rehearsals, many things occur; rehearsals often do not go smoothly as planned. Amateur theatre mainly is unpaid for, and commitment is low – therefore, appreciating the players requires skill and lots of enticing!
Producing a play calls for expenses and sacrifice, commitment and obligation, and these silently cost money.
Many a theatre clubs and houses do not have the pride of facilities expected of a theatre group; backstage and change rooms are inconsiderately poor, while makeup and costumes are usually absent other than surrendered individually.
These and more are teething matters in theatre especially amateur theatre and CAS cannot be exempted from passing through these as the new committee and the cast try to balance their performance.
What commonly should be learnt here is casts and their crew should work alongside club managements to see their rehearsals come to reality, hence, the planned performance of Game Over now reset for fresh dates should be supported; failure will mean everybody at CAS would have essentially failed.
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Meanwhile, ABET Arts Promoters of Chingola hosts a one-day theatre workshop for Chililabombwe-based school teachers on March 25, 2016 at Kamenza Secondary School.
ABET Arts Promoters’ director Ackson Tembo said the workshop will showcase the basics of theatre particularly designed to address some challenges facing schools in putting up plays.
 Among others, the workshop will mainly cover topics in scriptwriting, directing and management of plays. At the end of the workshop according to Tembo participants will be recognised with certificates of participation.
ABET Arts Promoters strive to promote theatre to help improve the standards of theatre artists, enhancing the elevation of school drama by identifying qualitative talent in pupils.
Last year ABET Arts successfully worked with Kabundi Primary School of Chingola with the school capturing the best production award in the primary school category during the National Schools Arts Association NASAAZ National Festival held in August in Mansa. 
Facilitators for the workshop will include theatre big names, Ackon Tembo, Moses Chabinga, Andy Yauli and youngster Edgar Chikombe Mulenga who ABET Arts are grooming. 
John.kapesa818@yahoo.co.uk – 0955-0977-710975