The Sunday News
MULTI-AWARD-WINNING South African group, Newcastle Arts Development Organisation, will be one of the major highlights at the fourth edition of the Youth Cultural Arts Festival (Yocaf) to be held at the end of this month in Masvingo.
The coming of the South African outfit is part of promoting cultural exchange programmes between festivals where a host of local acts from across the country will also be showcased.
The South African outfit is bringing a multi-award- winning production entitled, “Human Race” which has managed to enthrall audiences every time it has performed.
Yocaf co-ordinator, Precious Mudzingwa, said the development is exciting as it signifies the continued growth of Zimbabwe’s largest youth arts festival.
“We are delighted at this cultural exchange programme with the Newcastle outfit from South Africa. It shows that the festival is indeed growing. This is just the beginning. We are hoping to send local groups on international programmes as ambassadors of the cultural fete,” said Mudzingwa.
Written by Phelelani Mzimela and co-directed by Sanele Mzimela, the Human Race is a lively three-hander stage artwork, a physical theatre piece that has taken all of its staging by storm since the first performance in Newcastle at Osizweni Arts Centre.
The theatrical performance has been rapidly growing from day one, with the help of many theatre top dogs coming in as mentors, including Johannesburg’s female theatre guru from Alexandra, Ntshieng Mokgoro of Olive Tree Company who has made a big name for herself in the industry with plays like Thursday’s Child and Zion just to mention but a few.
The production, Human Race has participated in many highly recognised South African arts platforms and has never disappointed its audience as it shows improvements every time it is staged.
The production has also been staged at the Market Lab in Johannesburg which is the qualification to one of the biggest theatre festival in South Africa, the Zwakala Arts Festival.
In November 2013, it participated in the Isigcawu Arts Festival where it took the first prize, scooping the promising actor awards for all three actors, best production and best script.
Running under the theme, “I am an Artist,” this year the festival is promising a diverse programme for its audience. Just in its infancy, the festival has broken all barriers and has been that ever-so shining light for the young people.
The festival will also attract other plays from artistes around the country as well as stand-up comedy.
Intwasa Festival director Raisedon Baya confirmed his attendance at the festival where he said he would be taking the Flat Dwellers play.
“Yes, I will be there and will be going there with the Flat Dwellers play that I think will be a favourite of many,” he said.
