Difference between revisions of "Samuel Ravengai"

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[[Samuel Ravengai]] (1970–) is a performer trainer, director, theatre maker and academic.
 
[[Samuel Ravengai]] (1970–) is a performer trainer, director, theatre maker and academic.
 
   
 
   
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=THIS ARTICLE BEING EDITED=
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==Biography==
 
==Biography==
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Born Samuel Ravengai in the Midlands Province, in Mberengwa District in Zimbabwe. He completed his aschooling at Chegato High School, where he read arts subjects, joining a Drama Club run under the auspices of Agriculture Society. He distinguished himself as "Macbeth" in the school production of William Shakespeare's play in 1988.  
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Born Samuel Ravengai in the Midlands Province, in Mberengwa District in Zimbabwe on 15 October, 1970. He completed his schooling at Chegato High School, where he read arts subjects, joining a Drama Club run under the auspices of Agriculture Society. He distinguished himself as "Macbeth" in the school production of William Shakespeare's play in 1988.
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 +
He graduated from the University of Zimbabwe[https://www.uz.ac.zw/] with a BA (Theatre and English) in 1994 and BA Honours in Theatre Arts in 1995. He then went to the [[University of Cape Town]], graduating with a Master’s in Theatre and Performance in 2002 and PhD in Theatre and Performance in 2012.
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Between  1992 and 1995 and 2002 and 2007 he taught and did theatre work as actor and director for the University of Zimbabwe and various companies in Zimbabwe while continuing his studies in South Africa, where the coursework included some acting and directing in Cape Town. In 2014 he joined the [[University of the Witwatersrand]] as lecturer and he would become an Associate Professor and head the  Department of Theatre and Performance between 2016 and 2020, after which he was made Head of Graduate Studies at the [[Wits School of Arts]] and in 2023 appointed Assistant Dean Graduate Studies: Humanities at the [[University of the Witwatersrand]].  
  
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He graduated from the [[University of Zimbabwe]] with a BA (Theatre and English) in 1994 and BA Honours in Theatre Arts in 1995. He then went to the [[University of Cape Town]], graduating with a Master’s in Theatre and Performance in 2002 and PhD in Theatre and Performance in 2012.  
+
He is the current co-Editor of the ''[[South African Theatre Journal]]'', an Editorial Board member for  [[Palgrave Macmillan]]'s series on ''Performance and Migration'' and an Editorial Board member for  the ''[[Imbizo Journal of Literary Studies]]'' ([[UNISA Press]]).
  
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He joined the [[University of the Witwatersrand]] in 2014, becoming an Associate Professor and heading the  Department of Theatre and Performance at [[Wits]] between 2016 to 2020, after which he became Head of Graduate Studies at the [[Wits School of Arts]].  
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Book publications include co-author of ''Theatre from Rhodesia to Zimbabwe'' (published by [[Palgrave Macmillan]] in 2021) and author of ''Decolonizing African Theatre'', an upcoming publication deriving from a research project called ''[[Afroscenology]]'', that explores theories of African and Diasporic aesthetics, based on theatrical practice across several years.
  
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He is the current co-Editor of the ''[[South African Theatre Journal]]'' and co-author of the book ''Theatre from Rhodesia to Zimbabwe'' (published by [[Palgrave Macmillan]] in 2021).
+
==Contribution to Zimbabwean theatre, film, media and/or performance==
  
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He is particularly interested in the interconnection of race, nation, empire, migration and ethnicity with cultural production. He is currently involved in the research project called Afroscenology which seeks to propound and document a theory on African and Diasporic aesthetics based on their practice across several years. His book, ''Decolonizing African Theatre'', which features this new theory, is in production with [[Cambridge University Press]].
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===As actor===
  
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Contribution to Theatre
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As a student at the University of Zimbabwe he played "Mr. Rawlings" in ''[[The Darkness of Our Light]]'' (1992) and "Dr Barnes" in Eugene O;Neill's ''[[Waiting for Lefty]]'' (1994), both plays directed by [[Robert McLaren]] ([[Robert Mshengu Kavanagh]]). In 1995 he appeared in two plays directed by [[Fani Kayode Omoregie]], ''[[Hopes of the Living Dead]]'' (as "Nweke") and ''[[Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again]]'' (as a journalist).
−
1. 2017. Directed Marechera Sketches, based on Dambudzo Marechera’s The Alley and Killwatch, Wits Main Theatre| work done with Wits students|
+
 
−
2. 2015. Directed Vumani Oedipus, adapted from Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, Market Theatre| Barney Simon Theatre| work done with Wits and Market Lab students|
+
===As stage director===
−
3. 2014. Directed No Good Friday, Athol Fugard, Wits Downstairs Theatre. Johannesburg| work done with Wits BADA students|
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4. 2012. Directed Qaphela Merman, Workshop theatre with UZ BA Honours students, Beit Hall Theatre. Harare
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In Harare he directed a large number of stage plays between 2004 and 2012, working with students at the University of Zimbabwe and the [[Theory X Theatre Company]], for institutions like Rooftop Promotions, the [[Harare Repertory Theatre]], the Savannah Arts Trust and the International Festival of the Arts.
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5. 2007. Directed Anatol, Arthur Schnitzler, Harare Repertory Theatre, Harare| work done with Theory X Theatre Company|
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−
6. 2007. Directed Decades of Terror, Daniel Maphosa, Theatre-in-the-Park, Harare (Work done with Savannah Arts Trust)
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Works directed have included ''[[Death of a Salesman]]'' (Arthur Miller), ''[[The Dilemma of a Ghost]]'' (Ata Aidoo), ''[[Waiting for Godot]]'' (Samuel Beckett), ''[[Antigone]]'' (Jean Anouilh), ''[[One for the Road]]'' (Harold Pinter), ''[[Anatol]]'' by Arthur Schnitzler, ''[[The Lion and the Jewel]]'' ([[Wole Soyinka]]), ''[[Decades of Terror]]'' ([[Daniel Maphosa]]), ''[[Hill View]]'' ([[Tawanda Kanengoni]]), ''[[Muramu]]'' ([[Stephen Chifunyise]]),  
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7. 2007. Directed Hill View, Tawanda Kanengoni, Standard Theatre, Harare International Festival of the Arts 2007| work done with Theory X Theatre Company|
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8. 2007. Directed Upcoming Playwright’s Interview, Tafadzwa Muzondo, Aon Zimbabwe Theatre, Harare International Festival of the Arts 2007| work done with Theory X Theatre Company|.
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9. 2005. Directed The Lion and the Jewel, Wole Soyinka, Beit-Hall, Harare
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===As actor, writer and director for Television===
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10. 2005. Directed Muramu, Stephen Chifunyise, Theatre-in-the-Park, Harare| work done with Rooftop Promotions|
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−
11. 2004. Directed Waiting for Godot, Samuel Beckett, Beit Hall, UZ, Harare
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As a TV actor he played "Aaron" in ''Garikayi'', directed by Arnold Shoko and aired on Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation TV in 1995.
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12. 2004. Directed Antigone, Jean Anouilh, Beit Hall, UZ, Harare.
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13. 2004. Directed One for the Road, Harold Pinter, Beit Hall, UZ, Harare.
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For two years (1997-1998) he was the producer/director of Munhumutapa African Broadcasting Corporation (MABC) Television.
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14. 2003. Directed The Dilemma of a Ghost, Ata Aidoo, Beit Hall, UZ, Harare.
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15. 2003. Directed Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller, Beit Hall, UZ, Harare.
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He wrote and directed a documentary film commissioned by SIRDC for ZTV entitled, Food Fair 2005.
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16. 2001. Directed Trauma Centre, Samuel Ravengai, Little Theatre, University of Cape Town.
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17. 2000. Directed On the Brink, Samuel Ravengai, Playroom, University of Cape Town.
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Between 2004 and 2007 he was the Associate Director and Consultant Script Editor for ''Studio 263''(a prime-time daily soap opera, 2004 to 2007), which was broadcast on [[Mnet-Africa Magic]], Zambia NBC and the British Channel OBTV. He was Consultant Script Editor for, Studio 263, for the period 2004 – 2007  
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Performed in the following Plays.
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18. 2001. The Suit as Philemon, directed by Prof Chris Weare
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===Consultancy/Technical/Professional Reports===
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19. 1995. Hopes of the Living Dead as Nweke, directed by Dr Fani Kayode Omoregie
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−
20. 1995. Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again as journalist, directed by Dr Fani Kayode Omoregie.
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Publications include:
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21. 1994. Waiting for Lefty as Dr Barnes, directed by Dr Robert McLaren (Robert Kavanagh Mshengu)
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22. 1992. The Darkness of Our Light as Mr. Rawlings, directed by Dr Robert McLaren (Robert Mshengu Kavanagh)
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2002. Report on the Operations of ZBC’s Productions Strategic Business Unit. For Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBCTV): Harare.
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Contribution to Television
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He created the Studio 263 (a prime-time daily soap opera) story for the 2004 – 2005 story and designed treatments and step outlines for all Studio 263 episodes from September 2004 to 2007. He wrote and directed a documentary film commissioned by SIRDC for ZTV entitled, Food Fair 2005.
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2008. Political Theatre under Threat: The Impact of POSA, AIPPA and Censorship on Theatre Making in Zimbabwe. For Savannah Trust: Harare
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He was Associate Director for Studio 263, flighted on Mnet-Africa Magic, Zambia NBC and the British Channel OBTV. He was Consultant Script Editor for, Studio 263, for the period 2004 – 2007 and Producer/Director of Munhumutapa African Broadcasting Corporation (MABC) Television (1997-1998). He was screen actor and performed as Aaron in Garikayi, directed by Arnold Shoko and aired on Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation TV in 1995.
 
  
−
Consultancy/Technical/Professional Reports
 
 
2012. World Bank. Short term Consultant with PREM Unit. Editorial work
 
2012. World Bank. Short term Consultant with PREM Unit. Editorial work
 +
 
2012. Giving Voice to the Artists: The Impact of Current Cultural Policy on Zimbabwean Arts. For Arterial Network-Zimbabwe
 
2012. Giving Voice to the Artists: The Impact of Current Cultural Policy on Zimbabwean Arts. For Arterial Network-Zimbabwe
−
2008. Political Theatre under Threat: The Impact of POSA, AIPPA and Censorship on Theatre Making in Zimbabwe. For Savannah Trust: Harare
 
−
2002. Report on the Operations of ZBC’s Productions Strategic Business Unit. For Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBCTV): Harare.
 
  
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Achievements/Awards
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==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
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2022 Editorial Board member, Palgrave Macmillan, Performance and Migration, Series Editors Yana Meerzon and Steve Wilmer. Palgrave Macmillan Press
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2022 Editorial Board member, Imbizo Journal of Literary Studies. UNISA Press
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===As director===
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2021 Editor in Chief, South African Theatre Journal. Taylor and Francis
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2019 Promoted to Associate Professor, Wits University
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2001. Wrote and directed ''[[Trauma Centre]]'' in the [[Little Theatre]], [[University of Cape Town]].
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2014 Appointed Senior Lecturer, Wits University
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2013 Promoted to Senior Lecturer, University of Zimbabwe
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2000. Wrote and directed ''[[On the Brink]]'' in [[The Playroom]], [[University of Cape Town]].
 +
 
 +
2014. Directed ''[[No Good Friday]]'' by [[Athol Fugard]] in the [[Wits Downstairs Theatre]], with [[Wits]] BA Dramatic Art students.
 +
 
 +
2015. Directed ''[[Vumani Oedipus]]'', adapted from Sophocles’ ''[[Oedipus Rex]]'' in the [[Barney Simon Theatre]], with [[Wits]] and [[Market Lab]] students.
 +
 
 +
2017. Directed ''[[Marechera Sketches]]'', based on Dambudzo Marechera's ''The Alley'' and ''Killwatch'', [[Wits Main Theatre]], with [[Wits]] students.
 +
 
 +
===As performer===
 +
 +
2001. Played "Philemon" in ''[[The Suit]]'', directed by [[Chris Weare]]
 +
 
 +
===Editorial positions ===
 +
 
 +
 
 +
2021- Co-Editor ''[[South African Theatre Journal]]''
 +
 
 +
2022- Editorial Board member, [[Palgrave Macmillan]]'s series on ''Performance and Migration''
 +
 
 +
2022- Editorial Board member, ''[[Imbizo Journal of Literary Studies]]''. [[UNISA Press]]
 +
 
 +
===Awards and recognition===
 +
 
 
2010-11. Awarded the UCT International Scholarship
 
2010-11. Awarded the UCT International Scholarship
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2010. Awarded the UCT Research Associateship and rated ‘A’ Researcher
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2009-10. IFTR/FIRT Award (Lisbon and Munich)  
+
2010. Awarded the UCT Research Associateship
 +
 
 +
2009-10. [[IFTR/FIRT]] Award (Lisbon and Munich)  
 +
 
 
2010. Victoria League English Speech Award
 
2010. Victoria League English Speech Award
 +
 
2009, 11. Rosalie Van de Gucht Award
 
2009, 11. Rosalie Van de Gucht Award
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2010-11 Canon Collins Ros Moger/Terry Furlong Award
+
 
−
2007. Directed Anatol, written by Arthur Schnitzler, Harare Repertory Theatre, Harare, Work done with Theory X Theatre Company,
+
2010-11.        Canon Collins Ros Moger/Terry Furlong Award
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2005. Nominated Most Outstanding Theatre Production at the 2008 National Arts Merit Award ceremony, Seven Arts Harare for the play Muramu, written by Stephen Chifunyise, Theatre-in-the-Park, Harare.
+
 
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2005-2006. Directed Studio 263, a soap opera produced by Afro Eye Film and Video Productions and screened on national Television; it scooped the Best Soap Opera Award at the National Arts Merit Award 2005 and 2006, Harare Sheraton and Seven Arts.
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== Sources ==
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2001. The play which he featured as the main character (Philemon) in Can Themba’s The Suit won the Marta Best Production award at the Brno Setkani/Encounter Festival in the Czech Republic, 2001. The play was directed by Chris Weare and Heike Gehring, UCT
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 +
CV provided by [[Samuel Ravengai]], 30 January, 2023.
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https://www.uz.ac.zw/
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 +
Go to the [[ESAT Bibliography]]
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 +
== Return to ==
 +
 
 +
Return to [[ESAT Personalities  R]]
 +
 
 +
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]]
 +
 
 +
Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
 +
 
 +
Return to [[Main Page]]

Latest revision as of 15:22, 15 October 2023

Samuel Ravengai (1970–) is a performer trainer, director, theatre maker and academic.

THIS ARTICLE BEING EDITED

Biography

Born Samuel Ravengai in the Midlands Province, in Mberengwa District in Zimbabwe on 15 October, 1970. He completed his schooling at Chegato High School, where he read arts subjects, joining a Drama Club run under the auspices of Agriculture Society. He distinguished himself as "Macbeth" in the school production of William Shakespeare's play in 1988.

He graduated from the University of Zimbabwe[1] with a BA (Theatre and English) in 1994 and BA Honours in Theatre Arts in 1995. He then went to the University of Cape Town, graduating with a Master’s in Theatre and Performance in 2002 and PhD in Theatre and Performance in 2012.

Between 1992 and 1995 and 2002 and 2007 he taught and did theatre work as actor and director for the University of Zimbabwe and various companies in Zimbabwe while continuing his studies in South Africa, where the coursework included some acting and directing in Cape Town. In 2014 he joined the University of the Witwatersrand as lecturer and he would become an Associate Professor and head the Department of Theatre and Performance between 2016 and 2020, after which he was made Head of Graduate Studies at the Wits School of Arts and in 2023 appointed Assistant Dean Graduate Studies: Humanities at the University of the Witwatersrand.

He is the current co-Editor of the South African Theatre Journal, an Editorial Board member for Palgrave Macmillan's series on Performance and Migration and an Editorial Board member for the Imbizo Journal of Literary Studies (UNISA Press).

Book publications include co-author of Theatre from Rhodesia to Zimbabwe (published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2021) and author of Decolonizing African Theatre, an upcoming publication deriving from a research project called Afroscenology, that explores theories of African and Diasporic aesthetics, based on theatrical practice across several years.

Contribution to Zimbabwean theatre, film, media and/or performance

As actor

As a student at the University of Zimbabwe he played "Mr. Rawlings" in The Darkness of Our Light (1992) and "Dr Barnes" in Eugene O;Neill's Waiting for Lefty (1994), both plays directed by Robert McLaren (Robert Mshengu Kavanagh). In 1995 he appeared in two plays directed by Fani Kayode Omoregie, Hopes of the Living Dead (as "Nweke") and Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again (as a journalist).

As stage director

In Harare he directed a large number of stage plays between 2004 and 2012, working with students at the University of Zimbabwe and the Theory X Theatre Company, for institutions like Rooftop Promotions, the Harare Repertory Theatre, the Savannah Arts Trust and the International Festival of the Arts.

Works directed have included Death of a Salesman (Arthur Miller), The Dilemma of a Ghost (Ata Aidoo), Waiting for Godot (Samuel Beckett), Antigone (Jean Anouilh), One for the Road (Harold Pinter), Anatol by Arthur Schnitzler, The Lion and the Jewel (Wole Soyinka), Decades of Terror (Daniel Maphosa), Hill View (Tawanda Kanengoni), Muramu (Stephen Chifunyise),


As actor, writer and director for Television

As a TV actor he played "Aaron" in Garikayi, directed by Arnold Shoko and aired on Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation TV in 1995.

For two years (1997-1998) he was the producer/director of Munhumutapa African Broadcasting Corporation (MABC) Television.

He wrote and directed a documentary film commissioned by SIRDC for ZTV entitled, Food Fair 2005.

Between 2004 and 2007 he was the Associate Director and Consultant Script Editor for Studio 263(a prime-time daily soap opera, 2004 to 2007), which was broadcast on Mnet-Africa Magic, Zambia NBC and the British Channel OBTV. He was Consultant Script Editor for, Studio 263, for the period 2004 – 2007

Consultancy/Technical/Professional Reports

Publications include:

2002. Report on the Operations of ZBC’s Productions Strategic Business Unit. For Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBCTV): Harare.

2008. Political Theatre under Threat: The Impact of POSA, AIPPA and Censorship on Theatre Making in Zimbabwe. For Savannah Trust: Harare

2012. World Bank. Short term Consultant with PREM Unit. Editorial work

2012. Giving Voice to the Artists: The Impact of Current Cultural Policy on Zimbabwean Arts. For Arterial Network-Zimbabwe

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

As director

2001. Wrote and directed Trauma Centre in the Little Theatre, University of Cape Town.

2000. Wrote and directed On the Brink in The Playroom, University of Cape Town.

2014. Directed No Good Friday by Athol Fugard in the Wits Downstairs Theatre, with Wits BA Dramatic Art students.

2015. Directed Vumani Oedipus, adapted from Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex in the Barney Simon Theatre, with Wits and Market Lab students.

2017. Directed Marechera Sketches, based on Dambudzo Marechera's The Alley and Killwatch, Wits Main Theatre, with Wits students.

As performer

2001. Played "Philemon" in The Suit, directed by Chris Weare

Editorial positions

2021- Co-Editor South African Theatre Journal

2022- Editorial Board member, Palgrave Macmillan's series on Performance and Migration

2022- Editorial Board member, Imbizo Journal of Literary Studies. UNISA Press

Awards and recognition

2010-11. Awarded the UCT International Scholarship

2010. Awarded the UCT Research Associateship

2009-10. IFTR/FIRT Award (Lisbon and Munich)

2010. Victoria League English Speech Award

2009, 11. Rosalie Van de Gucht Award

2010-11. Canon Collins Ros Moger/Terry Furlong Award

Sources

CV provided by Samuel Ravengai, 30 January, 2023.

https://www.uz.ac.zw/

Go to the ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to ESAT Personalities R

Return to South African Theatre Personalities

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page

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