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Simbarashe Mutizwa Showbiz Reporter
PLAYWRIGHT and director Thabani Hillary Moyo has lauded theatre productions from this year’s 10th edition of Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo saying they added to the spirit of festivity.
Plays Umbiko KaMadlenya, For Generations, The Lion and the Jewel, The Importance of Being Earnest, A Thousand Miles and Colour of Hope were all performed at Bulawayo Theatre with most of them commanding full houses.

The playwright said the festival witnessed more local plays being performed compared to previous editions of the festivals which relied on material from outside the city.

“I am glad to say that this year we managed to flood the festival with our local plays featuring local artistes whereas last year we did not produce anything,” he said.

Moyo said the plays had well researched story lines which communicated to the modern audience.

“The plays we had this year proved that the production teams had done their homework to produce good material. The plays were up to the festival’s standard and there was a notable improvement in the audiences who attended the plays compared to last year.

“Umbiko KaMadlenya commanded a full house followed by The Lion and the Jewel which attracted more than 800 students.”

However, Moyo said the lack of writers was hampering the growth of theatre in Bulawayo.

“Theatre is there in some areas in Bulawayo and there are people who can be identified with it, but the main problem is that there are a few writers in the city,” he said.

Moyo who has worked with veterans like Memory Kumbota and Richard Ndlovu in the play Umbiko KaMadlenya said working with established artistes from the city was an overwhelming experience for him.

He was a drama teacher at Eveline High School and has written several children’s plays.

He has written and directed various plays including The Immigrants which featured at the Harare International Arts Festival in 2008 and the Civil Servant which is a provocative theatre piece performed by Bambelela Arts Ensemble.

Local poet Sithandazile Dube also commended Intwasa saying it created a platform where local poets had the chance to share the stage with international artistes.

Dube, a resident member of the National Art Gallery in Bulawayo said poets from the city benefitted as they learnt new ideas from their counterparts.

“During the Gathering of Poets we had the opportunity to watch Tim Mwaura perform live on stage. From his performance, I learnt how to use different styles in reciting poems including using animal sounds and full body language,” she said.

She added that Bulawayo poets were moving in the right direction, as evidenced by the small difference they had with international poets.
Popularly known as Stha on stage, Dube challenged city poets to have more shows.

“I want to challenge poets in the city to come out in their numbers to perform as our audience is growing. Bulawayo has great and talented poets who’re making a name for themselves, such as Mercy Dliwayo, Philani Nyoni, Psycho, Tswarelo Motobi, Bhekumusa Moyo and Mgcini Nyoni,” she said.

Dube said she was expecting her first compilation of poems to be published next year.

“I am working on a project where I am going to publish my first compilation of 30 poems. These poems are going to be targeted at all age groups from school children to the older age,” she said.