LAST Sunday, a meeting was called in Chingola to consolidate, strengthen and fuse the revels and itinerary of the World Theatre Day which falls on Thursday, March 27.
Held at Chingola Arts Society a stone’s throw away from Kamenza Theatre Club, the proposed venue of the celebrations with the courteous of the host club which put up a delightful pre-arrangement and sumptuous braai afterwards, chairing the meeting, Raymond Kombe Kaoma tabulated the programme, saying the event will be heightened by a brass band, music, poetic recitals, traditional dance and other dramatic performances.
According to the deliberations Konkola Copper Mines has displayed concern though the conglomerate has proposed to shift the venue from the now barricaded and deserted Kamenza theatre; but then Kamenza theatre’s immediate next door neighbour Kamenza Symposium is an option – nevertheless, it was generally resolved that come rain or sunshine,
the event will take place at Kamenza theatre to emphatically signify the rebirth of the once play basket.
Worldwide, the week preceding 27 March will be packed with theatrical performances, which possibly may not work out in Zambia, but it is vital to take note for future plans.
Attended by concerned theatre artistes from Chililabombwe, Kitwe, Ndola, Mufulira and Chingola among them were Raymond Kaoma, Davies Chisanga, Sandra Kabonde, Christabel Kabonde and Bosco Mwisa. Others were Clement Muyasani, Lewis Mutakasha, Edward Lange and Kenneth Siyandi.
According to an itinerary released through Kaoma the celebrations will commence with a march past following the route from the  Civic Centre round in town, join Kamenza Way and turn off at Zambezi road to Kamenza Theatre at 09.00 hours with performances not exceeding 10 minutes each expected to grace the occasion.
Kitwe’s celebrated master of ceremonies Pamela Hojane, a veteran actress at Nkana-Kitwe Arts Society was appointed as MC and would be expected to control the event with strict adherence to the programme before breaking finally off at 13.00 hours.
Expected to give speeches are leaders and representatives from the Ministry of Tourism and Arts, National Arts Council, the National Theatre Arts Association of Zambia, Lusaka’s Yezi Arts Promoters and Promotions and ABET Promotions of Chingola.
The National Arts Council, which has already released K4000 towards the event through Adrian Chipindi is expected to give a keynote speech tailored on supporting theatre artists. Though more funds are needed to accomplish and accommodate the total budget of K20 000 that includes refreshments, T-shirts and banners Mopani Copper Mines, KCM and other partners have indicated supporting the event.
Worldwide, Brett Bailey a South African playwright, designer, director, installation maker and artistic director of Third World Bunfight has been drafted to write this year’s World Theatre Day speech which will be read at all celebrations.
Brett who has worked in Zimbabwe, Uganda, Haiti, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the UK and Europe and throughout South Africa is acclaimed in iconoclastic dramas, which interrogate the dynamics of the post-colonial world and include dramas like Big Dada, Ipi Tombi, Imumbo Jumbo, Media and Orfeus.
His works have played across Europe, Australia and Africa, and have won several awards, including a gold medal for design at the Prague Quadrennial (2007).
He headed the jury of the Prague Quadrennial in 2011, and was a juror of the International Theatre Institute’s ‘Music Theatre Now’ competition in March 2013.
He directed the opening show at the World Summit on Arts and Culture in Johannesburg (2009), and from 2006-2009 the opening shows at the Harare International Festival of the Arts. From 2008-2011 he was curator of South Africa’s only public arts festival, ‘Infecting the City,’ in Cape Town. In 2014, he will deliver the International Theatre Institute’s World Theatre Day message to UNESCO which will be the cornerstone of all celebrations worldwide.
I am pleased to say I have watched one of Bratt’s musicals Ipi Tombi, when Nkana-Kitwe Arts Society’s veteran actress Freda Nkonde produced it in 1986 – to date, the resounding performance melodiously echoes in my mind as the show was invigorating, tantalising and full of energy such that each time I meet Fredah, I loudly talk about it. And again, I am repeating myself, Freda, wake up and get back to Ipi Tombi for our sake, and those that missed it!
Kombe and his team needs recommendation particularly when he confirmed that preparations for the World Theatre Day in Chililabombwe were on schedule as nearly all the measures have been tackled with duties assigned to all responsible. For now, the cry, ultimately is for more funding.
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It is interesting to learn that Kasama District National Schools Arts Association of Zambia (NASAAZ) in Northern Province held the screening performances during the week held at Kasama Girls Secondary (drama and poetry) and Kasama Boys Secondary where traditional dance and choral music were being staged.
According to the head teacher who is the District Schools Arts Association of Zambia Coordinator Peter Chungu the festival was well organised as it kept the young minds away from books and mischief, admitting that the themes of performances invariably rekindled the lives and style of the people of Kasama and beyond.
Peter said Kasama was divided into zones as the area was vast to put together saying the district festival was in preparation for the Provincial festival set for March 17 at Luwingu Secondary School.
Prominent schools that exhibited high calibre performances were among others Mubanga Chipoya school, Chafwa, Kasama Girls Secondary, Henry Kapata and Ituna Secondary.
And in Mufulira, the district team for NASAAZ held a note-sharing workshop for matrons and patrons held at Mano Primary School following their forthcoming district festival planned for two days 17 and 18 March at Mufulira Little Theatre.
Coordinator Douglas Chama, who is head teacher at Mupena Primary School, said he was pleased the workshop had gone on well with unquestionable and categorical success as it provided more ideas to the men and women in charge of cultural clubs – this added to the good performances as exhibited last year.
Chama said Mufulira performed well in artistic activities due to good planning.
Officiating at the same workshop during which resource persons were Ernest Tembo and William Kesa looking at traditional dance, music, drama and poetry District Education Standards Officer (general) Gabriel Kalifungwa said his office was proud to be associated with the commitment the teachers had shown in ensuring expressive arts were reinvigorated, heartned and promoted in schools.
Kalifungwa, who stood in for the District Education Board Secretary Fightwell Mutambo, pledged filial and financial support during the forthcoming festival saying learners in school were imbibed with inert talents which should be cropped, harnessed and inspired.
John.kapesa818@yahoo.co.uk – 0955-0967-0977-710975.