NEWSLETTER | An American In Zimbabwe
Artistic Training Exchange | Phase Two
Playwright Intensive Training
Nikkole Salter is currently in Zimbabwe teaching six promising Zimbabwean Playwrights in Almasi's First Training Exchange! Almasi asked Nikkole, "What is the biggest lesson you've learned so far?" Here's what she said: "It was an inspirational moment to reach our first week's benchmark where participants presented their ideas for the plays they would begin to develop in the following weeks. After a jam-packed week of fundamentals it was rewarding to see them all immediately applying their knowledge to their story outlines. It's going to be exciting to see them manifest their explorations on karma, moral duty, romantic love, justice and dreams on the page... and eventually on the STAGE!"
Meet Zimbabwe’s Next Great Playwrights
GIDEON JEPH WABVUTA
"My mission is to faithfully tell stories that will resonate with our day to day lives and it will focus people on addressing the flaws that exist within particular institutions and individuals. I also seek to speak for and with the marginalised and oppressed within society; all this I want to do through the exploration of the mind. My work should question norms and never strengthen stereotypes but always seek to bring a new knowledge and light. This workshop has been an eye opener; its intensive nature has been quite taxing as there is never a moment to spare. I have learnt more about dramatic writing in this past week than I have in my whole life. It clearly is demystifying dramatic writing. The experience is absolutely amazing and I’m sure by the time we are done we will be a million miles ahead from where we started."
THANDIWE NYAMASVISVA
"My personal artistic mission statement is: To maintain a workable balance between relevance, creativity, entertainment and significant earnings. What I feel about my exchange with Nikkole: The exchange has enriched my (writing) life is so many dimensions. Not only have I learnt very important technical skills regarding writing but from our informal chats I have been very inspired and encouraged in knowing that despite being from different continents and being at very different stages of our careers, we still share similar struggles and fears as artists. It's always good to know that you are not alone."
TAFADZWA BOB MUTUMBI
"I strive to tell marginalized narratives. I seek to create work that is fun, innovative, positive, timeless, universal and functional. I envision myself creating works that will be used as models for theatre for development studies. The exchange so far has given me so much practical information on how to critique my work. With these treasured tools I can definitely say "I can write plays anywhere anytime without any fear."
TSUNGAYI HATITYE
"My stories are going to explore universal and human stories and cause discourse that may change humanity. My vision is to become a successful professional dramatic writer whose work will be sought after by the biggest production houses and showcased on Broadway and West End among other places. The exchange so far with Nikkole has not only been eye opening but also highly productive."
SAMANTHA NDLOVU
"I want to inflict change. I want my work to be recognized globally. The exchange with Nikkole has been tremendous for the past 3 weeks. The knowledge she has impacted in us in just this short time is a milestone in how to learn to become a good writer and dramatist. I have learnt a lot in the field of drama, the elements of creating a good story. I really wish we could have this process even for a year; studying a Diploma in the field of Playwriting. I feel that she is bringing in a different take (American skills) on dramatization, which I believe we can merge with our Zimbabwean take."
TRUSTEE BOARD MEMBERS
Christina Cutlip (Managing Director of Plan Sponsor Services at TIAA-CREF) READ BIO
Nyambi Nyambi (Stage and Screen Actor) READ BIO
Tafadzwa Pasipanodya (Attorney at Foley Hoag LLP) READ BIO
Mara Isaacs (Creative Producer, Founder and Director of Octopus Theatricals) READ BIO
Gale Anne Hurd (Film and TV Producer and Screenwriter) READ BIO
Laurie Holden (Actress and Human Rights Activist) READ BIO
Stephen Reid (Co-founder of Pharmspective) READ BIO
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
Kamilah Forbes (Artisic Director of the Hip Hop Theater Festival) READ BIO
LaTanya Richardson Jackson (Philanthropist, Activist and Veteran Actress) READ BIO
Clyde Valentin (Executive Director of the Hip Hop Theater Festival) READ BIO
NYU Graduate Acting Program (Mark Wing Davey, Chair) FIND OUT MORE
Center Theater Group (Michael Ritchie, Artistic Director) FIND OUT MORE
Featured Artist
TAFADZWA BOB MUTUMBI
Meet some of the Zimbabwean Artists that we are investing in: Tafadzwa Bob Mutumbi is a performer, aspiring director, and voice- over artist from Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe. A recent graduate of the Theory X theatre Initiative 3 year Acting programme, he has performed in plays such as Colours of Dreams, I Have A Dream!!!, Election Day, Yours Abundantly From Zimbabwe, The Accused and The Gospel of Othello, Miss Julie and The Father. He was featured in the Zimbabwean films Heartbreak (2009) and Nothing (2008). Tafadzwa has also done a variety of work in radio and voiceover, and won the silver medal in the Power in the Voice spoken word competition for Southern Africa.His directorial attempts were in plays My father is a Goat and There is a Field. From 2008-2009, he was founder and coordinator or the monthly I Have A Dream… poetry slam. Since 2009, he has been leading weekly poetry, Theatre of the Oppressed, and puppetry training sessions for underprivileged children in Harare.The sessions have seen his “students†winning trophies and special mentions from judges in festivals such as Allied Arts Festival, Young Africa Arts Festival and the Let Us dramatic Arts Festival(LUDAF). He was the co-odinator for the Annual Young Africa Arts Festival(2010). He worked as the Arts Co ordinator for Young africa Chitungwiza(2010). Tafadzwa Bob hopes to keep on learning and deepening his craft. He aspires to create inspiring works that are innovative and functional and bring about social Transformation. His dream is to create a performing Arts centre, that will provide free training and will be a factory for Zimbabwean artists who will use their craft to create more and more smiles for humanity’s sake | WATCH VIDEO
Upcoming Events
Associate Artistic Director of Mcarter Theater Adam Immerhaur comes to Zimbabwe next month to direct Danai Gurira's The Convert | FIND OUT MORE
Almasi's next staged reading is Fences by August Wilson to be directed by Zane E. Lucas. Stay Tuned!
Become a Cultural Ambassador!
Almasi works to build tangible, long term, collaborative relationships
between American and African artists. It seeks to professionalize Zimbabwe's
dramatic arts industry; to bring real opportunity and employment to Africans
who are talented and dedicated to their craft.
Create an opportunity today!
