Almasi Collaborative Art’s “Africa Voices Now! A Festival of New African Plays” marked a theatrical milestone on Saturday night with a sold-out opening performance of Can We Talk? by playwright Batsirai Chigama.
The intimate premiere at Jasen Mphepo Little Theatre concluded with a resounding standing ovation, marking a triumphant debut for the festival that represents 13 years of intensive artistic development.
The electric atmosphere inside the transformed Jasen Mphepo Little Theatre was palpable as the 60-seat venue reached full capacity with patrons who secured prestige tickets to support Almasi’s groundbreaking work in developing African theatrical talent.
The evening brought together an extraordinary gathering of Zimbabwe’s arts community, with festival founder Danai Gurira joined by the Almasi team and acclaimed members of the arts community in celebration of authentic African storytelling.
The Africa Voices Now! festival completely transformed the Jasen Mphepo Little Theatre with an evocative and vibrant art installation by visual artist Takunda Regis Billiat.
His installation features repurposed and upcycled materials that were used to create towering entry pillars in the space, an immersive tunnel and evocative pieces littered throughout the Theatre’s grounds.
The tunnel also features a series of large canvases displaying photos that tell the incredible Almasi story from its inception until present day.
“AVN is on! Don’t miss it. I cannot remember a more impactful moment in the theatre than being amongst Zimbabweans watching our opening night performance.”
“The energy, the community, the story of us as a people, embodied on that stage. I truly believe those who may never have thought themselves theatre goers need to give this a try. This may make them believers of it yet!” said Danai Gurira, Cofounder and Artistic Director of Almasi Collaborative Arts.
The production showcased the depth of talent cultivated through Almasi’s rigorous training programs, with Can We Talk? demonstrating the artistic excellence that has become synonymous with the organisation’s mission of “Bringing the African Narrative to the Global Stage.”
The night also featured a rousing performance from Hope Masike, who christened the stage of the performance area Almasi has dubbed the AVN (Africa Voices Now) Chill Zone. The Chill Zone, which features music every day of the festival from 4.30 pm, as well as vendors, is open to theatre lovers who wish to come and soak in the energy of the festival.
Benefit Night To Honour Walter Muparutsa – October 24
Building on the momentum of the opening night’s success, Almasi Collaborative Arts invites supporters to a special Benefit Night on Friday, October 24th, featuring These Humans Are Sick by Tatenda Mutyambizi.
This prestigious evening will honour the late, great Walter Muparutsa, a towering figure in Zimbabwean theatre whose legacy continues to inspire generations of artists.
The benefit performance will support the Walter Muparutsa Fellowship, Almasi’s initiative dedicated to preserving his memory while providing emerging theatre practitioners with opportunities to develop their craft at the highest level.
Prestige tickets for the October 24th benefit night are available at $50, with proceeds directly supporting Almasi’s artistic development programs and the Walter Muparutsa Fellowship.
A special raffle will also be held during the evening, offering patrons additional opportunities to support the organisation’s mission.
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