Botswana celebrates theatre

SHINGIRAI MADONDO
Correspondent | Thursday March 21, 2013 00:00

 

The organisers of the theatre activities confirmed the development in different interviews saying programmes include discussion on the state of theatre in the country, theatre performance, play-reading, music, and dance and poetry performances.Edward Moroka Mandy of Mandy Promotions said theatre should be appreciated by society, saying the role it plays in peace building and conflict resolution cannot be overemphasised.

Mandy said the celebration will be held for the second time in Gaborone.  For Francistown and Selebi-Phikwe, artists will be celebrating the World Theatre Day for the first time in their respective histories.'More than anything, there is need to reaffirm people's appreciation of the healing power of theatre by allowing voices to speak, the way it can shape people's opinions and how it brings together people from different backgrounds,' he said. He said in Gaborone the day will be celebrated at the Botswana Nursing Association auditorium and it will be an indoor activity.

This year's celebrations will mark the 51st anniversary of the World Theatre Day.  He said for the past 51 years, theatre has been used as the power to move, inspire, transform and educate in ways that no other art form has done.According to Mandy, theatre reflects both the extraordinary diversity of culture and the shared human condition, in all its vulnerability and strength.

In Gaborone, theatre activities lined up will be performed by Phakalane Theatre Works, Itekeng Theatre Arts, House of Thunder Theatre Arts and Mmadinare Theatre Group among a number of other groups.There will also be poetry and music.Modise Ras Mokete is expected to strung his trademark guitar tunes while Afro Poetry will croon to their rhyming sentences to show the creativeness that the country has.A panel theatre discussion is scheduled for the Francistown celebration featuring Phineas Botlhale (YOHO), Lyneor Nkosi (Bopaganang Basha), Katlego Mononyane (Ghetto Artists) and Boldwin Nyamande (Francistown Arts Association).The panel discussion will be focused on challenges faced by artists, achievements made in the country, failures as well as the way forward.Francistown celebrations will be held at the Old Magistrate's court buildings next to BancABC next week Tuesday.World Theatre Day was established in 1962 and since then artists around the world have been celebrating the day.