SAVANNA TRUST has thrown a lifeline to local theatre groups by availing resources to perfect the craft through a fellowship grant.
Dubbed the Accelerating Creative Capabilities, Entrepreneurship and Leadership In Zimbabwe (ACCEL ZW), the programme is aimed at strengthening the production and performance skills of theatre makers from rural and urban high density communities.
Savanna Trust director Daniel Maposa told Standard Style that this comes after a realisation that many theatre groups lack opportunities to get professional training, thereby affecting the quality of their productions.
“ACCEL ZW project seeks to ensure that these theatre groups perform in mainstream theatre venues and festivals in Zimbabwe thereby widening and have access to new markets outside of their usual community performance spaces,” Maposa said.
“This will enhance their chances of improving incomes and the livelihoods of these theatre groups and actors.
“Many, especially from rural areas and other underserved areas, lack exposure to professional theatre and venues, or they don't have the capacity to tour their plays, thereby limiting their opportunities and capacity to generate revenue from their work.”
Maposa said to achieve this, Savanna Trust will select four theatre groups from around the country who will undergo theatre making and performance training after assessing the needs of the group.
“After an intensive training process, a mentor will be attached to the group to assist them with further skills and act as their production consultant for three months,” he said.
“The groups will produce a professional theatre production.
“They will be assisted by their mentor to ensure that the play is of good quality, fit for performances in mainstream theatre venues, and festivals.
“The plays will be supported for performances in these venues and festivals.”
A training programme for theatre groups and other artists on utilising and monetising artistic work online will be conducted.
“The plays will be recorded on video and distributed through a pay per view platform,” Maposa said.
“This is so that they can teach more audiences online, those in Zimbabwe and abroad.
“An arts management aspect will be mainstreamed in the training so that the groups can effectively manage their affairs.”
The project is supported by the Culture Fund of Zimbabwe and the European Union under the Creative Actions 2.