African Voices: Help Them Be Heard!
2018 will be remembered as a year where we at Almasi expanded our capacity in the name of increasing the African Artist’s opportunity to excel. We were able to conduct more staged reading workshops, writing workshops and international exchanges than any year previous. The year kicked off with playwright and educator Alice Tuan from Los Angeles, traveling to Zimbabwe to lead our annual Almasi African Playwrights Conference, and with our own Almasi artist Kudzai Sevenzo traveling to Washington DC to assist director Adam Immerwahr with my play ‘Familiar’ at Woolly Mammoth Theater, and we were able to continue that momentum throughout the year. We accomplished a great deal while staying true to our mission: to create access, education, and opportunity for the African artist. Patrick Miller, one of our Zimbabwean playwrights from the Conference in January was, as per our exchange program, invited to Ojai Playwrights Conference in Ojai, California where he further developed his work amidst some of the most renowned theater makers. In Zimbabwe, we were able to conduct training programs for writers and directors alike. Our mainstay programming: staged readings, continued throughout the year, with a variety of pieces explored, from Julia Cho’s ‘The Language Archive’ to ‘Hwindi’, a Zimbabwean TV project in development.
We were pleased to award Kudzai Sevenzo the Walter Mparutsa Fellowship for 2018 in support of her BA program at Dell’ Arte International School of Physical Theater in Blue Lake, Northern California. While we continue to support our Walter Mparutsa Fellow, Gideon Wabvuta who is currently in the last year of his MFA in Dramatic Writing at The University of Southern California. We look ahead to 2019 with plans to expand our programming further and to present even more African artists with life-changing opportunities. This week, we kick off our third annual Almasi African Playwrights Conference with Alice Tuan returning. We look forward to the discovery of even more new African voices as we present them with the space and support to hone their skills as storytellers.
Please peruse our work and get to know our artists, and as we launch into the new year, please consider making a donation towards our efforts. What I learnt this past year after the astounding response to Marvel’s ‘Black Panther’, as a cast member, was that the world is more than ready for narratives from the African perspective. And every time I am back in Zimbabwe, as I am currently, I meet artists ready to take off and tell powerful untold stories in unexpected ways. Join me in making sure these stories are heard and experienced by the world.
Tinotenda and Happy New Year,
Co-Founder and Executive Artistic Director
Staged Reading of 'There is a Field' by Jen Marlowe, directed by Tafadzwa Bob Mutumbi at Old Mutual Theatre (Alliance Francaise de Harare) Actors-Charlene Mangweni, Tawanda Mupatsi and Shepard Leo, 20 October.
The Writers Dialogue at University of Zimbabwe Sandra Chidwanyika, Zaza Muchemwa and Thandiwe Mawungwa, 7 April.
Staged Reading of 'Hwindi', directed by Simon de Swardt at Old Mutual Theatre Actor-Musa Saruro, 20 April.
Almasi African Playwrights Conference, Zaza Muchemwa, Alice Tuan at Zimbabwe German Society, 12 January.
Almasi African Playwrights Conference Staged Reading of 'Am I African' by Farai Mabeza, directed by Tafadzwa Bob Mutumbi at Zimbabwe German Society Actors from left to right Michael Kudakwashe, Dereck Nziyakwi, Caroline Mashingaidze, Roland Lunga, Jeanne Fowler, 13 January.
Staged Reading of 'The Language Archive' by Julia Cho, directed by Zaza Muchemwa at Old Mutual Theatre, Actor-Charmaine Mujeri, 7 September.
Staged Reading of 'Hwindi' at Old Mutual Theatre, Actors from left to Right Sitshengisiwe Siziba, Eyahra Mathazia, Annette Eastwood, 20 April.
Micro Staged Reading of 5-ten Minute Plays, Zane Lucas, 24 November.
Kudzai Sevenzo
Kudzai Sevenzo is a Zimbabwean actress, voice-over artist, singer, and an Almasi fellow. Her career started in music, where she released two albums and later on worked as a tv anchor for Africa’s broadcaster, Mnet’s 'Studio 53', which featured the diverse cuisine, ar, and culture of several African countries. Her debut onscreen performance in the film 'Playing Warriors' earned her three Pan-African nominations in which she received two awards for Best Actress in a lead role. After taking part in an Almasi workshop, Kudzai was drawn to theatre and participated in various Almasi workshops as a student, actress, director and playwright. She was awarded a grant for the Almasi Cultural Exchange Program which facilitated her post-graduate auditions for drama schools in the United States. Her first play, a one-woman show called 'Under the Rubble' was developed and performed at the Ojai Playwrights Conference in California as well as the Harare International Festival of the Arts, (HIFA). Kudzai has toured Germany, Norway and Denmark through various theatre and musical productions.
She recently worked as assistant director and intern for Danai Gurira’s play 'Familiar which was performed in Washington D.C and New York, off Broadway. Kudzai is a sought-after voiceover artist, whose voice has been featured on several Zimbabwean commercials and documentaries within Southern Africa. A former speech and drama teacher, she enjoys working with young people of all ages in theatre and is a passionate activist on issues affecting women and girls.
“I am delighted to be selected as the Walter Muparutsa Fellow for 2018. I would like to thank Almasi, for this amazing opportunity. Every Almasi workshop staged reading and master class ignited a fire within me to learn more. I would also like to thank Mrs. Muparutsa for entrusting me with the Walter Muparutsa fellowship that bears the name of a Zimbabwean icon who left a lasting legacy in the arts industry. I am so excited about this new chapter at Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre here in Blue Lake, California. This program designed for the actor/creator is ideal, as I focus more on writing and directing. We have so many stories to tell and I have seen the power of theatre. I look forward to learning and contributing to the dramatic arts in Zimbabwe.”
Tafadzwa Mutumbi
Since the completion of his Masters in Physical Theatre program at Dell' Arte School of Physical Theatre California, Tafadzwa has been immersing himself in the Zimbabwean dramatic arts scene. He has been teaching physical theatre at AfriKera Dance Theatre school and Zimbabwe Theatre Academy. At HIFA 2018 he performed in 'We Must Transcend' by AfriKera Dance Theatre ( choreographed by Peter Lenso and Macintosh Jerahuni), and 'Mami Wata', a collaboration between Belgium based Dunia Dance Theatre and AfriKera Dance Theatre (choreographed by Harold George). He also directed a staged reading of 'Master's Shoe' by Gideon Jeph Wabvuta as part of the Almasi African Playwrights Conference at HIFA 2018. Tafadzwa is currently developing and fundraising for his physical theatre production 'Chirorodziva', which is an investigative journey into the world of ritual theatre for the healing of racial and political trauma.
Patrick Miller
Ever since his first performance as Joseph in a nativity play when he was five years old, Patrick "Millz" Miller's passion for the arts has steadily been growing. Over two decades after playing this role Millz has been establishing himself as a playwright and performing artist. Millz is also the current artistic director of Writers’Café. Launched in April 2017, Writers’ Café is a creative space for writers to meet and vibe-off other writers, work, sell and collaborate. Its flagship event the Writers Meet-Up is a literary arts initiative working towards the promotion of the local writing and reading culture. Through Writers’ Café and his stage plays, Millz has been engaged in creative activism focused on mental health issues (with a special focus on minorities) by using the Writers Meet-Up not only as an inclusive space for the creative exploration of understanding the human narrative, but a means of providing alternative coping mechanisms using writing as therapy. Millz has had his work developed at various platforms, most notably at the Almasi African Playwrights Conference 2018. It is through this platform that Millz was offered the opportunity to be a Writer in Residence at the 2018 Ojai Playwrights Conference in California.
Caroline Mashingaidze
I started working with Almasi in 2014 and the experience has been quite enlightening and eye-opening for me as an artist. Almasi through its staged readings and training workshops helped me grow artistically. Critically analyzing scripts and unpacking all the important nuances and understanding the journey of each character without judging them. Being able to see the play through the writer’s eye. What I hold more dear to me is the journey with Andre Holland during the Almasi Master Acting Class and how he managed to teach me how to express every thought in a dialogue and not take for granted every word in a script. Shakespeare was a challenge for me but his work was made easier by Andre when he understood my background and allowed me to explore in the best way possible without emulating other actors who had done Shakespeare before. I owe a lot to Almasi as it has made me grow in my craft.
Francis Nyakuhwa
Well as one of the actors who has been part of the Almasi staged readings since inception, I have obtained vast knowledge in acting, directing and playwriting. With such knowledge l have improved on my craft. Over the years l had numerous platforms to impart my knowledge to upcoming actors. This has contributed to the quality of show and standard of acting and writing of new local stories. One of the best experiences I had was during the inaugural Almasi African Playwrights Conference, which was conducted by Robert Egan of the Ojai Playwrights Conference where he worked with the upcoming writers on how to approach the further development of their work. I understood how a writer should approach their literal work and what would be needed to write a good script. This process made me appreciate the difficult journey a writer goes through till they have a final draft. The Voice Techniques workshop with Danai Gurira and Ross Maquard was also one of the best experiences I have had. I had had training in speech before but the one we had with Ross was different. It was presented in a manner we could clearly understand. His method of teaching allowed us to be comfortable within the space. It did not feel as if we are in class. On top of that l am a fan of Ross as an actor and l got an opportunity to have discussions with him on how l can improve my craft.
Directing 'There is a Field'
Harare, October 29th 2018 by Tafadzwa Bob Mutumbi
'There is a Field' by Jen Marlowe is indeed a masterpiece. It unwaveringly speaks truth to power. It teaches us a lot about storytelling and provokes quite beautifully the questions of what it means to be human and hopeful when living under the yoke of police brutality and state impunity. It asks, what do justice and healing mean? What I love the most about this masterpiece, is how Jen Marlowe, in her specificity, has managed to make this story a human and universal story even though it is based on a real-life event.
On the 7th of September 2018, Almasi Collaborative Arts presented a staged reading of 'The Language Archive' by Julia Cho at Old Mutual Theatre, Alliance Francaise. It was directed by Almasi’s Associate Artistic Director, Elizabeth Zaza Muchemwa. George is a brilliant linguist, consumed with preserving and documenting dying languages. But at home, he cannot find the words that will preserve his disintegrating marriage.
Directing 'The Language Archive'
Harare, September 15th 2018 by Elizabeth Zaza Muchemwa
It was fun to work on the staged reading of 'The Language Archive' by Julia Cho. I selected the play because I was interested in many of the issues dealt with in the play. Over the years I have developed a mild interest in languages. I have been picking up bits of different languages from reading books, watching movies and through my travels away from home. And yet I am also ashamed that whilst I know how to say "I love you" and "thank you" in more than three languages, I still cannot finish a conversation in my native tongue without peppering it with English.
Knowledge is Power
Harare, May 21st 2018 by Kudzai Sevenzo
My experience with 'Familiar' rehearsals started with table readings the day after I arrived in Washington D.C. If you have never visited Zimbabwe before, never spoken the language of the characters you are portraying and never been integrated into Zimbabwean culture, you best immerse yourself in research because knowledge is power! The rehearsal room put this adage into perspective with images of contemporary Zimbabwean life, its culture and liberation war heroes upon the walls. Books on the history of the nation were also available for actors to peruse through in the rehearsal space. The dramaturg, Kirsten, created an awesome website on everything Zimbabwean from its history, geography to politics and music.
Having the playwright present for the table readings was a great way for us to also gain more perspective of the play. Hearing Danai’s intention, the real-life characters that inspired her when writing the play and her own personal experience watching the traditional roora ceremony gave actors a glimpse into the world of the play and its dynamic characters, as well as its cultural nuances. She opened herself to questions, even giving actors access to real life people who had inspired some of the characters. Research was crucial for every actor to dig for more info and share their day’s find the next day at rehearsals.
On the 20th of April 2018, at Old Mutual Theatre, Alliance Francaise de Harare; Almasi in collaboration with Treasure Media presented a staged reading of the pilot of TV series 'Hwindi'. This offered the production team an opportunity to work with actors and get feedback before production on the TV pilot begins. Directed by Simon de Swardt the staged reading had the participation of emerging and experienced actors. 'Hwindi' is the working title for a comedy TV series that satirizes the intense madness of Zimbabwe’s kiya-kiya economic hustle through the eyes of Trymore, a successful kombi-operator whose business is destroyed at the moment of his greatest triumph.
Directing 'Hwindi'
Harare, June 18th, 2018 by Simon de Swardt
'Hwindi' is a comedy TV series that satirizes the immense difficulties Zimbabweans face in their battle to stay alive. On the 20th of April, Harare audiences watched a staged reading of the pilot episode which is the first of a dozen planned episodes. I wanted to do a staged reading with Almasi for a couple of reasons: it offered us an opportunity to experiment with casting and staging, and it also lets us gauge audience response to the script. This pilot episode was written primarily by Andrew Iliff and Farai Mudzingwa, but also includes contributions from Ranga Mberi who is one of the series writers.
On the 7th of April 2018, Almasi presented public readings from The Writers Dialogue at University of Zimbabwe Beit Hall. Facilitated by Thandiwe Mawungwa, the Writers Dialogue public readings had the participation of UZ students and Almasi African Playwrights Conference alumni Rudo Mutangadura and Farai Mabeza. The Writers Dialogue at University of Zimbabwe is part of the Almasi Writers Dialogue series. The Writers Dialogue Series is an Almasi platform where emerging and mid-career writers are equipped with dramatic writing skills and also enabled to get critical responses to their works in progress.
This is exactly why we do what we do. This process simply reinvigorated me to make sure we do all we can to make sure African artists have the support and guidance they need to reach their fullest potential. Please watch the video and get a taste of the special experience that was the Almasi African Playwrights Conference.