MUSICIAN and creative Tafadzwa Matiure has challenged artists from all walks of life to be creative and strategic if they are to stay relevant and afloat in the cut-throat industry.
Matiure, who works for the Theatre in the Park in Harare as programmes and operations manager, believes creatives from all disciplines should come up with their own strategic blueprints.
“Our director and producer (Daves) Guzha is on a tour promoting the theatre play Song Unburied, which is being screened at the State Theatre in Pretoria. The play was written by Panashe Chigumadzi and is all about our culture and heritage,” he told NewsDay Life & Style.
“Song Unburied is arguably the first Zimbabwean theatrical production to be accepted for a performance at the State Theatre in Pretoria. We are all happy about this achievement.
“Most recently, we screened a very impactful play Last Chance from Zambia in which the cast consisted of two prisoners who had a convincing discussion on the need to remove the death sentence.”
Song Unburied is a narrative story which revolves around Mbuya Nehanda, that is her stolen bones, identity and post liberation woes in Zimbabwe after the hard-fought liberation war.
In the play, Charmaine Mujeri and Dalma Chiwevera play their roles in a highly-engaging way.
Matiure said artists were gifted in a way that they can create an interesting production from their own experiences and what they observe in their day-to-day lives.
“My role here is to make sure that we design and implement programmes that benefit the youth. Theatre and film are the main lucrative forms of employment in the arts industry and intentionally, we give this whole space to other creative forms,” he said.
“We work with thespians, musicians, culinary practitioners and food festivals. We are looking for partners from both the corporate and donor world to partner us in this worthy cause.
“We have lined up a number of activities that can help local artists to refine their talents while they emulate other successful productions which have been held at the Theatre in The Park.”
Matiure said the Theatre in the Park was rebranding and the venue would soon host the Cinema in the Park production series in which the audience come to watch their best African and Zimbabwean movies.
“The Three Days in a March produced and directed by Kuda Bwititi of Inhouse Media Productions will be the first film to be screened at the Cinema in the Park, which seeks to showcase entirely or 100% local talent. This shall be followed by See Me, a film produced by Charlene Furusa,” he said.
“We have also put in place a jam session in the Theatre in the Park garden every Saturday under the banner Magitare in the Park. Any willing artistes can come and entertain families that come to spend the Saturday afternoon.
“Recently, jazz musician Agga Nyabinde, Gwevedzi Redefined and Taffie Matiure were the first ones to entertain at the well-attended maiden Magitare in the Park.”
