Scholarships for the Zimbabwe Theatre Academy
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https://www.facebook.com/zimtheatreacademy/
Nikki and I are helping to support and fully fund two scholarships to the Zimbabwe Theatre Academy (ZTA). Each scholarship of $2,030 pays the full yearly tuition for a student and also provides money to help with transportation, housing and food. The ZTA, now in its third year, has already distinguished itself as a leading center for professional training in Zimbabwe with students winning awards and honors in the National Arts Merit Awards, having work chosen for Festivals and touring internationally.
We saw first hand the skill, passion, and dedication of these student performers during our three months as guest teachers. It was beyond exciting to be at what felt like the beginning of a movement. The students and teaching faculty at ZTA are actively shaping the contemporary narrative in Zimbabwe.
Please help us support these students!
From Lloyd Nyikadzino,
Zimbabwe Theatre Academy Director
Why is it important to fund this work of the Zimbabwe Theatre Academy?
The Academy has been at the forefront of enhancing the capacity of the next generation of theatre creators in Zimbabwe outside of tertiary institutions and providing a sustained platform for under privileged and untrained youths, to acquire practical and valuable theatre knowledge and techniques. The academy is actively generating thought provoking, stimulating, significant and innovative plays. The youth-led Zimbabwe Theatre Academy has become the first premiere institution for the full-time training of practically oriented theatre skills and an ideal platform for global interaction and integration. The Academy national capacity building of the marginalized theatre-makers, is filling a long-standing and critical training gap between the community and learning institutions, through developing a sustainable model for obtaining specialized and practical theatre training for sustaining livelihoods. With the lack of, or limited, formal theatre training institutions in Zimbabwe, the academy is contributing to the rejuvenation and professionalization of theatre practice in Zimbabwe and creation of an avenue for employment creation. Many young people are coming from outside Harare (the capital city), to come and train at the academy.
The Zimbabwe Theatre Academy Trust (ZTAT) is dedicated to the professionalization of theatre in Zimbabwe through providing specialized and accessible theatre making, performance and physical theatre training programs, which capacitate disadvantaged young people in delivering professional theatre products and services. The academy is strengthening the skills of disadvantaged theatre makers thus generating new contemporary Zimbabwean theatre makers under the mentorship of proficient and practicing practitioners. Through this, the academy creates a forum through which community and social issues are made available, explored, re-described and celebrated, using theatre as a safe vehicle for doing so. The academy continues to support, nurture and empower young talent and afford them the opportunities that come through the ZTA. This project contributes to the development and strengthening of a sustainable, long term artist development program in Zimbabwe. The academy also provides a unique outlet for Zimbabwean youths and its community to show inspiration stories and dreams, giving equal priority across the gender divide and any other form of marginalization. The Zimbabwe Theatre Academy is developed as an alternative means of uplifting the lives of marginalized young people in the Zimbabwean societies. This program enables these talented young artists to take charge of their own lives so as to enhance meaningful participation in community developmental issues through the theatre.
More information:
The Zimbabwe Theatre Academy Trust (ZTAT) was established in 2017 by Lloyd Nyikadzino, National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA) award winning theatre director, (https://www.herald.co.zw/hail-the-nama-2019-winners/). Lloyd Nyikadzino is a multi-award winning theatre professional with over 15 years of experience. He continues to work extensively as an educator, director, producer, arts manager and consultant, locally and internationally. A graduate of Dell’Arte and University of Zimbabwe, Lloyd is the National Coordinator in Zimbabwe for the Zimbabwe Centre of the International Theatre Institute (ITI) https://www.iti-worldwide.org/.
Description of the Academy work and mission:
The Zimbabwe Theatre Academy Trust (ZTAT) (https://zimtheatreacademy.co.zw/) is dedicated to the professionalization of theatre in Zimbabwe through providing specialized accessible training programs, community outreaches, research, performances, festival and collaborations that capacitate young people in delivering professional theatre products and services.
In these short and exciting four years, the Academy has managed to successfully enroll and train three intakes of a total number of 24 students with the third class in session scheduled to graduate this year (2020). The academy has also managed to create and produce 7 ORIGINAL THEATRE PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTIONS (namely Zandezi, My Zimbabwe, Gang Leader, Breathing Grave, The Stone, Coming Home and Deep Down Inside). Some of the productions have won awards; namely the Best Theatre Production, and two Best Actors at the Bulawayo Arts Awards (2019) and Best Director at National Arts Merit Awards for the production Zandezi (2019). The Academy was nominated in four categories: Best Production, Director, Actor and Actress for the production, The Gang Leader (2020). The Academy, In partnership with its sister school in northern California (Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre) , granted a scholarship to one of the 2018 graduates (Cadrick Msongelwa) to further his studies in the United States of America. https://www.zimbojam.com/zimbabwe-theatre-academy-graduation/
SEND LAUGHTER TO THE CHILDREN OF ZIMBABWE is an outreach project the Zimbabwe Theatre Academy Trust initiated and partnered with Clowns without Border to provide psychological support to children and caregivers through a tour connecting rural areas of Zimbabwe, Tongogara refugee camp and the Chimanimani area. The aim of this project is to alleviate suffering amongst children and families, as well as providing capacity building of local artists. The project had a direct reach of more than 9,000 children and women. The Academy sent two of its 2018 gradates (Thandolwenkosi Dube and Philemon Fuka) to work with two renowned clowns from South Africa and United States of America for the Zimbabwean tour.
Zimbabwe Theatre Academy Trust has also managed to roll-out a MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME with high schools in Harare, in partnership with Girls High School where Zimbabwe Theatre Academy train drama students and teachers in theatre directing and acting. ZTAT collaborates with other theatre organizations locally to mentor new and upcoming directors, writers and actors who cannot commit to the one-year full time training program. Our latest collaboration (December 2019) was carried out in partnership with the Jasen Mphepo Little Theatre.
In 2019 The Academy curated and premiered what we intend to be an annual Theatre Festival, MITAMBO INTERNATIONAL THEATRE FESTIVAL. https://earground.com/2020/09/14/2nd-mitambo-international-theatre-festival-kicks-off-in-total-defiance/. The Festival generated a lot of attention locally and internationally with 12 countries worldwide managing to participate in the festival with over 20 shows and 4 local premieres.
Due to the lockdown, the 2020 Festival responded to the Covid-19 pandemic by going online, between the 15th of September to the 3rd of October, 2020. The three weeks were filled with online paper presentations, workshops, short performances and full length plays.
Partnerships:
Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre, Jasen Mphepo Little Theatre, Savanna Trust, Reps Theatre, Ministry of Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation, International Theatre Institute, Theatre Communications Group, Portland Playhouse, Assitej, Patsime Trust, The Laboratory of Global Politics and Performance, Music Crossroads Academy, Almasi Collaborative Arts, Nhimbe Trust, Arterial Network, Rooftop Promotions and University of Zimbabwe.
Nikki and I are helping to support and fully fund two scholarships to the Zimbabwe Theatre Academy (ZTA). Each scholarship of $2,030 pays the full yearly tuition for a student and also provides money to help with transportation, housing and food. The ZTA, now in its third year, has already distinguished itself as a leading center for professional training in Zimbabwe with students winning awards and honors in the National Arts Merit Awards, having work chosen for Festivals and touring internationally.
We saw first hand the skill, passion, and dedication of these student performers during our three months as guest teachers. It was beyond exciting to be at what felt like the beginning of a movement. The students and teaching faculty at ZTA are actively shaping the contemporary narrative in Zimbabwe.
Please help us support these students!
From Lloyd Nyikadzino,
Zimbabwe Theatre Academy Director
Why is it important to fund this work of the Zimbabwe Theatre Academy?
The Academy has been at the forefront of enhancing the capacity of the next generation of theatre creators in Zimbabwe outside of tertiary institutions and providing a sustained platform for under privileged and untrained youths, to acquire practical and valuable theatre knowledge and techniques. The academy is actively generating thought provoking, stimulating, significant and innovative plays. The youth-led Zimbabwe Theatre Academy has become the first premiere institution for the full-time training of practically oriented theatre skills and an ideal platform for global interaction and integration. The Academy national capacity building of the marginalized theatre-makers, is filling a long-standing and critical training gap between the community and learning institutions, through developing a sustainable model for obtaining specialized and practical theatre training for sustaining livelihoods. With the lack of, or limited, formal theatre training institutions in Zimbabwe, the academy is contributing to the rejuvenation and professionalization of theatre practice in Zimbabwe and creation of an avenue for employment creation. Many young people are coming from outside Harare (the capital city), to come and train at the academy.
The Zimbabwe Theatre Academy Trust (ZTAT) is dedicated to the professionalization of theatre in Zimbabwe through providing specialized and accessible theatre making, performance and physical theatre training programs, which capacitate disadvantaged young people in delivering professional theatre products and services. The academy is strengthening the skills of disadvantaged theatre makers thus generating new contemporary Zimbabwean theatre makers under the mentorship of proficient and practicing practitioners. Through this, the academy creates a forum through which community and social issues are made available, explored, re-described and celebrated, using theatre as a safe vehicle for doing so. The academy continues to support, nurture and empower young talent and afford them the opportunities that come through the ZTA. This project contributes to the development and strengthening of a sustainable, long term artist development program in Zimbabwe. The academy also provides a unique outlet for Zimbabwean youths and its community to show inspiration stories and dreams, giving equal priority across the gender divide and any other form of marginalization. The Zimbabwe Theatre Academy is developed as an alternative means of uplifting the lives of marginalized young people in the Zimbabwean societies. This program enables these talented young artists to take charge of their own lives so as to enhance meaningful participation in community developmental issues through the theatre.
More information:
The Zimbabwe Theatre Academy Trust (ZTAT) was established in 2017 by Lloyd Nyikadzino, National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA) award winning theatre director, (https://www.herald.co.zw/hail-the-nama-2019-winners/). Lloyd Nyikadzino is a multi-award winning theatre professional with over 15 years of experience. He continues to work extensively as an educator, director, producer, arts manager and consultant, locally and internationally. A graduate of Dell’Arte and University of Zimbabwe, Lloyd is the National Coordinator in Zimbabwe for the Zimbabwe Centre of the International Theatre Institute (ITI) https://www.iti-worldwide.org/.
Description of the Academy work and mission:
The Zimbabwe Theatre Academy Trust (ZTAT) (https://zimtheatreacademy.co.zw/) is dedicated to the professionalization of theatre in Zimbabwe through providing specialized accessible training programs, community outreaches, research, performances, festival and collaborations that capacitate young people in delivering professional theatre products and services.
In these short and exciting four years, the Academy has managed to successfully enroll and train three intakes of a total number of 24 students with the third class in session scheduled to graduate this year (2020). The academy has also managed to create and produce 7 ORIGINAL THEATRE PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTIONS (namely Zandezi, My Zimbabwe, Gang Leader, Breathing Grave, The Stone, Coming Home and Deep Down Inside). Some of the productions have won awards; namely the Best Theatre Production, and two Best Actors at the Bulawayo Arts Awards (2019) and Best Director at National Arts Merit Awards for the production Zandezi (2019). The Academy was nominated in four categories: Best Production, Director, Actor and Actress for the production, The Gang Leader (2020). The Academy, In partnership with its sister school in northern California (Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre) , granted a scholarship to one of the 2018 graduates (Cadrick Msongelwa) to further his studies in the United States of America. https://www.zimbojam.com/zimbabwe-theatre-academy-graduation/
SEND LAUGHTER TO THE CHILDREN OF ZIMBABWE is an outreach project the Zimbabwe Theatre Academy Trust initiated and partnered with Clowns without Border to provide psychological support to children and caregivers through a tour connecting rural areas of Zimbabwe, Tongogara refugee camp and the Chimanimani area. The aim of this project is to alleviate suffering amongst children and families, as well as providing capacity building of local artists. The project had a direct reach of more than 9,000 children and women. The Academy sent two of its 2018 gradates (Thandolwenkosi Dube and Philemon Fuka) to work with two renowned clowns from South Africa and United States of America for the Zimbabwean tour.
Zimbabwe Theatre Academy Trust has also managed to roll-out a MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME with high schools in Harare, in partnership with Girls High School where Zimbabwe Theatre Academy train drama students and teachers in theatre directing and acting. ZTAT collaborates with other theatre organizations locally to mentor new and upcoming directors, writers and actors who cannot commit to the one-year full time training program. Our latest collaboration (December 2019) was carried out in partnership with the Jasen Mphepo Little Theatre.
In 2019 The Academy curated and premiered what we intend to be an annual Theatre Festival, MITAMBO INTERNATIONAL THEATRE FESTIVAL. https://earground.com/2020/09/14/2nd-mitambo-international-theatre-festival-kicks-off-in-total-defiance/. The Festival generated a lot of attention locally and internationally with 12 countries worldwide managing to participate in the festival with over 20 shows and 4 local premieres.
Due to the lockdown, the 2020 Festival responded to the Covid-19 pandemic by going online, between the 15th of September to the 3rd of October, 2020. The three weeks were filled with online paper presentations, workshops, short performances and full length plays.
Partnerships:
Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre, Jasen Mphepo Little Theatre, Savanna Trust, Reps Theatre, Ministry of Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation, International Theatre Institute, Theatre Communications Group, Portland Playhouse, Assitej, Patsime Trust, The Laboratory of Global Politics and Performance, Music Crossroads Academy, Almasi Collaborative Arts, Nhimbe Trust, Arterial Network, Rooftop Promotions and University of Zimbabwe.
Organizer
Brian Weaver
Organizer
Portland, OR
