Difference between revisions of "Zwakala Festival"

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A festival put on by the [[Market Theatre|Market Lab]] to showcase the top productions from the Annual [[Community Theatre Festival]] and choose the ultimate winner, with an opportunity to perform in the [[Barney Simon Theatre]].  
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The [[Zwakala Festival]] is a festival of new writing which was founded by the [[Market Theatre|Market Lab]] in 1991.
  
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The aim was an annual festival to showcase the top productions from the annual [[Community Theatre Festival]] and choose the ultimate winner, with an opportunity to perform in the [[Barney Simon Theatre]].
  
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Founded in 1991, it became one of the more established and respected theatre festivals in Gauteng.  
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In 2014, with the appointment of [[James Ngcobo]] as the [[Market Theatre]]'s artistic director, the festival was gradually revamped, seeking to actively develop, nurture and promote new writing talent, and to act as a platform for connecting communities and artists. As part of this mentorship initiative, the artistic director began to appoint a resident director for each specific festival to help with fieldwork, identifying the eight productions that will be mentored as part the first phase of the festival. After that process the director will work with the judges to help find the winner for the year and then the Resident Director is expected to work with the winning director to prepare the production for a run at the [[Market Theatre]].
  
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In 20**, with the appointment of James Ngcobo as The Market Theatre’s artistic director, the festival was revamped, to develop, nurture and promote new writing talent, and act as a platform for connecting communities.
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The Resident Festival Director appointed for the 27th Zwakala Festival in 2020 is [[Zimkitha Kumbaca]].
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“My vision for this year’s festival is to make every group’s journey rich with new discoveries and filled with new experiences that will enhance their work as they venture into the next stage of the competition. Theatre is my passion and being given this opportunity to watch productions every day from different communities and change people’s lives is really an opportunity that I will not take lightly,” said the newly appointed resident director Zimkitha Kumbaca.
 
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The Market Theatre’s artistic director, James Ngcobo’s biggest commitment since joining the theatre five years ago is mentorship. “There has been a lot of young people who have come through the different programmes at the theatre where we have had the opportunity to mentor and the Zwakala Festival is another avenue that we are using to extend our mentorship reach to wider groups or communities. We have mentored young thespians across different disciplines such as directing, designing, musical direction etc. They have been given exciting opportunities at the foundation,” said James Ngcobo.
 
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“Introducing the role of Resident Director for the Zwakala Festival was a brave move, in my working with the groups I realised that we needed a young voice who can help us curate the festival and work with fieldworkers. Seeing this unfold has really been a valuable lesson for us on how to grow the festival each year,” added Ngcobo.
 
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Every year a director is attached to the festival to help with fieldwork, identifying the eight productions that will be mentored as part the first phase of the festival. After that process the director will work with the judges to help find the winner for the year and then the Resident Director is expected to work with the winning director to prepare the production for a run at the Market Theatre.
 
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In 2019 [[Zimkitha Kumbaca]] was appointed Resident Festival Director for the 27th Zwakala Festival in 2020.
 
  
  

Revision as of 10:18, 24 November 2019

The Zwakala Festival is a festival of new writing which was founded by the Market Lab in 1991.

The aim was an annual festival to showcase the top productions from the annual Community Theatre Festival and choose the ultimate winner, with an opportunity to perform in the Barney Simon Theatre.

In 2014, with the appointment of James Ngcobo as the Market Theatre's artistic director, the festival was gradually revamped, seeking to actively develop, nurture and promote new writing talent, and to act as a platform for connecting communities and artists. As part of this mentorship initiative, the artistic director began to appoint a resident director for each specific festival to help with fieldwork, identifying the eight productions that will be mentored as part the first phase of the festival. After that process the director will work with the judges to help find the winner for the year and then the Resident Director is expected to work with the winning director to prepare the production for a run at the Market Theatre.

The Resident Festival Director appointed for the 27th Zwakala Festival in 2020 is Zimkitha Kumbaca.


For more information, see the entries on the Market Theatre and Festivals


Sources

Artslink.co.za News - 22 November 2019 11:00

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