October 19, 2007
By Ndaba Dlamini
THE Zwakala Festival is in full swing, with 10 up-and-coming theatre groups from around the country vying for the top spot and a chance to perform to a wider audience at Joburg's famous Market Theatre.
The annual festival, now in its 13th year, gives young theatre groups the opportunity to perform in a professional environment. This year 10 plays are in the running, being performed at the Market Theatre Laboratory in Newtown from 14 to 21 October.
Theatre groups from all nine provinces are represented, like Swahombe Dramatic Ensemble from Limpopo, Atamelang Theatre Organisation from North West, Afrocentric Theatre Faces from Gauteng, and Heugh Road Blues from Eastern Cape.
In May, various theatre groups presented 43 plays at the laboratory during the annual Community Theatre Festival, ahead of the Zwakala Festival.
"The annual Community Theatre Festival is a build-up to the Zwakala Festival," explains Zwakala Festival co-ordinator Monde Mayephu. "Participating groups are chosen from all over South Africa by the Market Theatre's fieldworkers. They then present their work during the Community Theatre Festival and the best 10 groups are chosen by a judging panel to perform during the Zwakala Festival."
One of these is then chosen to perform at the Market Theatre for a paying audience.
Masses of professional and established actors started their careers at the festival and went on to join the cream of the creative performing industry.
"The Market Theatre Laboratory's main objective is to provide a life-changing drama education experience that is committed to indigenous and innovative theatre by identifying and developing young acting, directing and writing talent," Mayephu says.
Founded in October 1989 by the late Barney Simon, the renowned playwright, theatre director and co-founder of the Market Theatre, the laboratory is the training and development wing of the Market Theatre and is located in the Market Theatre precinct.
"Simon's vision to create a platform for new and original voices, and to ensure that the work and artists from a grassroots level were developed and nurtured, has become a reality and has contributed tremendously to the growth of theatre in South Africa."
The Zwakala Festival is on at the Market Theatre Laboratory in Newtown until 21 October. It runs from 4pm on weekdays and from 9am on weekends. Entrance to all shows is free. The Market Theatre complex is at the corner of Bree and Wolhuter streets in Newtown.
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