International Theatre Institute - Zimbabwe

27/03/2025

Co-produced by the International Theatre Institute ITI and the Cyprus Centre of ITI (https://www.youtube.com/), the film captures the spirit of Wor...

27/03/2025

Adler Bongani Mbofana is a 22 year old clown, theatre and film actor

27/03/2025

World Theatre Day from our Chairperson:

When Gertrude Pfumayaramba, ITI-Zimbabwe's Developments Officer, asked me to deliver a World Theatre Day address, she acknowledged the power of the ITI Worldwide message, but insisted on hearing my personal perspective as Chairperson of ITI Zimbabwe. Initially, I felt the familiar pang of time constraints, another demand on an already stretched schedule. However, upon reflection, I realized I had much to say. In our polarized information age, where taking a stand often silences opposing voices, I've largely allowed my work to speak for itself. Today, I'm grateful for the opportunity to articulate my thoughts.
My connection to Zimbabwean theatre began nearly twenty years ago, during a period of intense national upheaval. Economic instability, cultural clashes between generations, and rapid social change created a challenging environment. The sector was in crisis, grappling with dwindling resources, poor working conditions, and a pervasive sense of decline. Practitioners faced misinterpretations and dismissive labels, yet we persisted, driven by the hope of a brighter future.
For me, theatre evolved from a simple outlet to a vessel for my nascent dreams, and ultimately, a means of survival. The journey has been fraught with hardship, heartbreak, and despair, reflecting the enduring struggle within Zimbabwean theatre. We’ve constantly fought for elusive goals, while also celebrating the moments of triumph.
Human history is often marked by relentless adversity. Yet, theatre practitioners resist being confined. We refuse to succumb to challenges, harnessing theatre to explore ideas, uphold ideals, and engage with our audiences. We use it to entertain, heal, and inspire.
Any serious practitioner knows the value of failure. Through fearless exploration and world-building, we learn from our own missteps and those of others. Theatre provides this crucial space for growth.
In a world plagued by injustice and inhumanity, theatre offers a lifeline. When anger is insufficient, and action seems impossible, theatre can provide a welcoming, non-judgmental space for equality and possibility. It is a place where a simple 'yes' can initiate personal and societal change, opening a window to hope.
Therefore, let us all say ‘yes’ to theatre. In our unique ways, let us keep this ancient and sacred practice alive and vibrant.

Happy World Theatre Day.



📸 Cynthia Matonhodze

27/03/2025

Happy World Theatre Day!

19/02/2025

Message for World Theatre Day 2025 – 27 March

Author of the Message: Theodoros TERZOPOULOS, Greece Theatre Director, Educator, Author, Founder and Artistic Director of the Attis Theatre Company, Inspirator of Theatre Olympics and Chairman of the International Committee of Theatre Olympics English (Translation)

World Theatre Day Message 2025 by Theodoros TERZOPOULOS

Can theatre hear the SOS call that our times are sending out, in a world of impoverished citizens, locked in cells of virtual reality, entrenched in their suffocating privacy? In a world of robotized existences within a totalitarian system of control and repression across the spectrum of life? Is theatre concerned about ecological destruction, global warming, massive biodiversity loss, ocean pollution, melting ice caps, increasing forest fires and extreme weather events? Can theatre become an active part of the ecosystem? Theatre has been watching human impact on the planet for many years, but it is finding it difficult to deal with this problem. Is theatre worried about the human condition as it is being shaped in the 21st century, where the citizen is manipulated by political and economic interests, media networks and opinionforming companies? Where social media, as much as they facilitate it, are the great alibi for communication, because they provide the necessary safe distance from the Other? A pervasive sense of fear of the Other, the different, the Stranger, dominates our thoughts and actions. Can theatre function as a workshop for the coexistence of differences without taking into account the bleeding trauma? The bleeding trauma invites us to reconstruct the Myth. And in the words of Heiner Müller “Myth is an aggregate, a machine to which always new and different machines can be connected. It transports the energy until the growing velocity will explode the cultural field” and I would add the field of barbarity. Can theatre spotlights shed light on social trauma and stop misleadingly shedding light on itself? Questions that do not allow definitive answers, because theatre exists and endures thanks to unanswered questions.

Questions triggered by Dionysus, passing through his birthplace, the orchestra of the ancient theatre, and continuing his silent refugee journey through landscapes of war, today, on World Theatre Day. Let us look into the eyes of Dionysus, the ecstatic god of theatre and Myth who unites the past, the present and the future, the child of two births, by Zeus and Semele, expresser of fluid identities, female and male, angry and kind, divine and animal, on the verge between madness and reason, order and chaos, an acrobat on the borderline between life and death. Dionysus poses a fundamental ontological question “what is it all about?” a question that drives the creator towards an ever-deeper investigation into the root of myth and the multiple dimensions of the human enigma. We need new narrative ways aimed at cultivating memory and shaping a new moral and political responsibility to emerge from the multiform dictatorship of the present-day Middle Ages.

-Theodoros Terzopoulos

Translated from the original Greek: Yiola Klitou / Cyprus Centre of I.T.I.

https://www.world-theatre-day.org/messageauthor.html

Theatre Director, Educator, Author, Founder and Artistic Director of the Attis Theatre Company, Inspirator of Theatre Olympics and Chairman of the International Committee of Theatre Olympics

12/06/2023

Zimbabwe Theatre Academy in Partnership with Clowns Without Boarders is excited to invite you all for a half day Clown masterclass on Wednesday the 14th of June at Reps Theatre or Jasen Mpepo from 9am-1pm.

The workshop will be facilitated by two renowned clowns and circus practitioners from USA.

Please let's attend!

Thank you.

31/05/2023

Don't miss out be part of this competition

Books  |  Past Winners The Yale Drama Series is seeking submissions for its 2024 playwriting competition. The winning play will be selected by the series’ current judge, Jeremy O. Harris. The... READ MORE

26/05/2023

Congratulations to Dr. Jessica Kaahwa on being elected Vice-Chairperson of International Theatre Institute Executive Council.

Dear Colleagues,
Today, I write to you with a deep sense of honor and gratitude as I report my successful election to the EC Board for the role of Vice President (Africa) International Theatre Institute. I am truly humbled by the trust the EC members have placed in me to represent you, and I pledge to serve all individuals, communities, and theatres with unwavering dedication and commitment.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the members of ITI Africa for electing me to the EC, which has led to this esteemed position. It is a privilege to represent the vibrant and diverse theatre community of this great continent. Africa is a tapestry of cultures, languages, and traditions, each contributing to the rich artistic heritage that spans from the northernmost point to the southernmost tip, from the eastern shores to the western horizons. I am committed to serving every corner of Africa equally, ensuring that the theatre practitioners and organizations across the continent are supported, empowered, and given a platform to showcase their vibrancy.

Furthermore, I acknowledge the immense responsibility that comes with this position. I am aware that I will not only be a representative of ITI Africa, but also as a bridge between our continent and the global theatre community. With the support of the EC Presidency, EC members, EC Board, and the ITI Worldwide Secretariat, I am determined to uphold your trust and meet the expectations of my role. Together, we will forge strong connections, exchange ideas, and foster collaboration, transcending borders and boundaries to create a truly global theater movement.

I firmly believe that theatre has the power to transcend cultural barriers, challenge societal norms, and bring people together. It is a force that can ignite dialogue, promote understanding, and inspire change. As Vice President, I will work tirelessly to facilitate cross-cultural exchanges, encourage international collaborations, and create opportunities for theatre practitioners from Africa and beyond to come together and learn from one another.

The path ahead is not without its challenges, but I am confident that, with our collective efforts, we can overcome them. We will face the obstacles head-on, guided by the principles of inclusivity, diversity, and equity. I am committed to promoting gender equality, supporting emerging talents, and ensuring that marginalized voices are heard and represented on stage.

In closing, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my predecessor Dr. Mande Hamadou for his inclusive leadership and our current Regional Council of ITI leadership team led by Mr. Ablas Oeudraogo of ITI Africa, your combined efforts together with our partners has contributed to our current visibility. I am sincerely counting on your example and guidance.
Let us stand united, hand in hand, as we strive to make a lasting impact, leaving a legacy that will inspire generations to come.

Thank you, and I look forward to serving you all with passion, integrity, and unwavering dedication.

Jessica Atwooki Kaahwa PhD.

Vice President
Executive Council Board.

Senior Theatre Consult
Dept. of Performing Arts & Film
Makerere University
Kampala.

25/05/2023

21/05/2023

For Actors and Creators

Call for Applications!!!!

28/03/2023

"WE ARE THE ONES WHO USE THE LIGHT OF ART TO CONFRONT THE DARKNESS OF IGNORANCE AND EXTREMISM". SAMIHA AYOUB

Message for World Theatre Day 2023 – 27 March

Author of the Message: Samiha AYOUB, Egypt
Egyptian actress

Translated by: Hessa Alfalasi, UAE/Fujairah Centre of ITI

International Theatre Institute ITI World Organization for the Performing Arts

MESSAGE

To all my friends the theatre artists from around the world,

I write this message to you on World Theatre Day, and as much as I feel overwhelmed with happiness that I am speaking to you, every fibre of my being trembles under the weight of what we all suffer - theatre and non-theatre artists - from the grinding pressures and mixed feelings amidst the state of the world today. Instability is a direct result of what our world is going through today in terms of conflicts, wars and natural disasters that have had devastating effects not only on our material world, but also on our spiritual world and our psychological peace.

I am talking to you today while I have the feeling that the whole world has become like isolated islands, or like ships fleeing in a fog-filled horizon, each of them spreading its sails and sailing without guidance, not seeing anything on the horizon that guides it, and despite that, it continues to sail, hoping to reach a safe harbour that contains it after its long wanderings in midst of a roaring sea.

Our world has never been more closely connected to each other than it is today, but at the same time it was never been more dissonant and farther from each other than it is today. Herein lies the dramatic paradox that our contemporary world imposes on us. Despite what we are all witnessing in terms of the convergence in the circulation of news and modern communications that broke all the barriers of geographical borders, the conflicts and tensions the world is witnessing exceeded the limits of logical perception and created, amidst this apparent convergence, a fundamental divergence that distances us from the true essence of humanity in its simplest form.

Theatre in its original essence is a purely human act based on the true essence of humanity, which is life. In the words of the great pioneer Konstantin Stanislavsky, "Never come into the theatre with mud on your feet. Leave your dust and dirt outside. Check your little worries, squabbles, petty difficulties with your outside clothing – all the things that ruin your life and draw your attention away from your art – at the door." When we ascend the stage, we ascend it with only one life within us for one human being, but this life has a great ability to divide and reproduce to turn into many lives that we broadcast in this world so that it comes to life, flourishes and spreads its fragrance to others.

What we do in the world of theatre as playwrights, directors, actors, scenographers, poets, musicians, choreographers and technicians, all of us without exception, is an act of creating life that did not exist before we got on stage. This life deserves a caring hand that holds it, a loving chest that embraces it, a kind heart that sympathizes with it, and a sober mind that provides it with the reasons it needs to continue and survive.

I am not exaggerating when I say that what we do on stage is the act of life itself and generating it from nothingness, like a burning ember that sparkles in the darkness, lighting the darkness of the night and warming its coldness. We are the ones who give life its splendor. We are the ones who embody it. We are the ones who make it vibrant and meaningful. And we are the ones who provide the reasons to understand it. We are the ones who use the light of art to confront the darkness of ignorance and extremism. We are the ones who embrace the doctrine of life, so that life may spread in this world. For this, we exert our effort, time, sweat, tears, blood, and nerves, everything we have to do in order to achieve this lofty message, defending the values of truth, goodness, and beauty, and truly believing that life deserves to be lived.

I am speaking to you today, not just to speak, or even to celebrate the father of all arts, “theatre,” on his world day. Rather, I invite you to stand together, all of us, hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder, to call out at the top of our voices, as we are accustomed to on the stages of our theatres, and to let our words come out to awaken the conscience of the entire world, to search within you for the lost essence of humanity. The free, tolerant, loving, sympathetic, gentle and accepting human. And to let you reject this vile image of brutality, racism, bloody conflicts, unilateral thinking, and extremism. Humans have walked on this earth and under this sky for thousands of years, and will continue to walk. So take your feet out of the mire of wars and bloody conflicts, and leave them at the door of the stage. Perhaps them our humanity, which has become clouded in doubt, will once again become a categorical certainty that makes us all truly qualified to be proud that we are humans and that we are all brothers and sisters in humanity.

It is our mission, us playwrights, the bearers of the torch of enlightenment, since the first appearance of the first actor on the first stage, to be at the forefront of confronting everything that is ugly, bloody, and inhuman. We confront it with everything that is beautiful, pure, and human. We, and no one else, have the ability to spread life. Let us spread together for the sake of one world and one humanity.

Samiha Ayoub