SPECIAL EVENTS
2019 Almasi African Playwrights Conference
From the 3rd to the 12th of January 2019, Almasi held the Almasi African Playwrights Conference at Reps Theatre, Harare. Led by Alice Tuan the conference had the participation of two Zimbabwean playwrights Thandiwe Mawungwa, Virginia Jekanyika and, South African Playwright Sfundo Sosibo. Almasi Water Muparutsa Fellow Gideon Jeph Wabvuta served as Dramaturge.
Over the course of ten days the playwrights, led by Alice Tuan, further developed their plays in a collaborative process with local actors and directors. The process culminated in free public staged readings of the new African Plays at Reps Theatre.
On the 11th of January, 2pm Almasi presented a public staged reading of Ruvajena-White Flower by Virginia Jekanyika. Directed by Eyahra Mathazia the play deals with love, family relationships, and albinism.
On the 11th of January, 6pm Almasi presented a public staged reading of 33 Cents by Thandiwe Mawungwa. Directed by Sandra Chidawanyika-Goliath the play deals with power, corruption, intersectionality and the interconnectedness of human existence.
On the 12th of January, 6pm Almasi presented a public staged reading of #BlackGodsMatter by Sfundo Sosibo. Directed by Tafadzwa Bob Mutumbi the play deals with sexuality, identity, and African spirituality.
Almasi also presented a public staged reading of Gideon Jeph Wabvuta’s thesis play, The Colour of Blood on the 12th of January at 2pm. Set in late 1970s Zimbabwe, the female-centered narrative featured the talents of Yandani Mlilo, Musa Saruro, Michael Kudakwashe, Chipo Chikara, Lloyd Nyikadzino, and Tafadzwa Bob Mutumbi.
Almasi African Playwrights Conference 2019 was the third edition of the Almasi African Playwrights Conference.
The Almasi African Playwrights Conference is designed to identify new African dramatic writing talent and facilitate the further development of new African dramatic pieces.
2018 Almasi African Playwrights Conference
From the 3rd to the 13th of January 2018, Almasi Collaborative Arts presented the Almasi African Playwrights Conference at Zimbabwe German Society. The 10-day intensive had 3 playwrights collaborating with local directors and actors in further developing new Zimbabwean work. The process was led by Visiting American Artist, Alice Tuan with 2017 Walter Muparutsa Fellow Gideon Jeph Wabvuta serving as a dramaturg. The Conference culminated in free public staged readings of the new Zimbabwean work. Varied in style and subject matter, all the three plays enjoyed a good audience turnout.
On the 12th of January 2018 at 5 pm, Almasi presented a staged reading of The Prophet by Patrick Miller. The play deals with issues of monetized Christianity, sexuality and power struggles. An intense post-performance discussion followed the reading. On the 13th of January 2018 at 2pm, Almasi presented a staged reading of Please Try Again Later by Rudo Mutangadura. Set in a kombi, the play deals with the African female’s self-possession, migrant labor, xenophobia and marital relationships as is affected by the African diaspora phenomena. A robust post-performance discussion followed the reading. On the 13th of January 2018 at 5pm, Almasi presented a staged reading of Am I African by Farai Mabeza. The play’s central themes focus on African identity as is linked to land, race and land ownership in a post-colonial modernity. A deeply engaged post-performance discussion followed the reading.
Almasi also presented a staged reading of Family Riots by Gideon Jeph Wabvuta on the 12th of January at 2pm. The play, set in 1998 Zimbabwe during the infamous food riots, navigates the delicate terrain of traditions, spirituality, religion, and marriage for a family living in fast-changing times. An enthusiastic post-performance discussion followed the reading.