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The set books are The Lion and the Jewel by one of Africa’s most prominent playwrights Wole Sonyika and A Doll’s House written by Henrick Ibsen, one of Europe’s theatre godfathers.

The two plays will be presented by students from the Centre of Talent Development (CTD), a theatre training project that was established last year by playwright and theatre producer Raisedon Baya and Thabani Hilary Moyo.

In an interview, the director of Intwasa, Baya, said it was part of his organisation to use drama to support literature students.

“The vision of CTD is to use drama to support educators across the country by developing live dramatisations of literature texts studied in the classroom and this year the centre is working on two classic plays.

“The objective of the project is to provide good quality and well researched performances that satisfy educators and students’ needs within the classroom,” said Baya.

He said the centre was using the two plays as part of its Theatre-In-Education project.

The project has a cast of 14 young actors drawn from Mpopoma, Sobukhazi, Entumbane, Lobengula, Msiteli  and Eveline  High.

The project has also incorporated two young and talented out-of-school youths who were part of their schools drama clubs.

The Lion and the Jewel is Soyinka’s best known play that uses an interesting fusion of traditional and modern imagery with the writer artistically revealing the interesting and yet controversial conflict between tradition and modernisation.

In A Doll’s House Ibsen deals with the age-old theme of women emancipation.

The Lion and the Jewel has a talented cast of Trevor Sibanda who plays Lankule, Hazel Sibanda and Charmaine Mudau, doubling as Sidi and Favourite, Bathabile Dlamini plays Sadiku and seasoned actor Gift Chakuvinga plays Baroka.

This production of Soyinka’s comedy promises to appeal to the young audience who are the target group.

It is a classic story which tells how Baroka, the village chief, outpaces the modernist Lankule in their quest to get the hand of the Village belle, Sidi.

Meanwhile, the cast for A Doll’s House is a young one whose enthusiasm to learn has made the whole creative process easier and more fun.

Nokwanda Sibanda plays Nora Helmer with Trevor Sibanda playing Torvald Helmer.

Faith Moyo plays the role of Mrs Linden and Ronald Sigeca  plays that of Krogstad.

Lesley Masuku is Dr Rank and Opehilia Phiri is the maid, Ellen.

Intwasa Arts Festival offers an opportunity to students from within and around Bulawayo to watch the live performances.

After the performances there will be discussions on the plays.

The festival is set to run from 18 to 22 September.