The Sunday Mail
MASVINGO Youth Cultural Arts Festival (Yocaf) has launched a new theatre company that will give budding talent an opportunity to sharpen their skills.Yocaf director Leeroy Gono said the new company, Young Creatives, would work with young talent to grow theatre in Zimbabwe.
“The company also serves as a multicultural collective that aims to produce original Zimbabwean works, at the same time maintaining a company that will combine emerging artists with seasoned professionals.
Through these works, the members will be given the opportunity to write, act, direct, design and produce,” he said.
According to the Yocaf director, Young Creatives would also support multi-disciplinary growth and promote national and international cultural exchanges.
Gono said while the past few years had seen a steady growth in the number of theatre productions, the sector was still performing below its full potential.
“There has been the emergence of young talented upcoming writers, actors and directors and their work has proved to be very innovative, hence there is need for a platform to harness this effort.
Zimbabweans have shown so much talent, this talent needs to be nurtured and exposed for real growth to be realised in the in the industry.”
YoungCreatives is conducting rehearsals for its first production, which is set to premiere in Masvingo this month. Thereafter, they will embark on a nationwide tour.
After that, theatre lovers can loon forward to the 2016 edition of the annual Yocaf in mid-September.
“The popular annual Youth Cultural Arts Festival will be held in September and the event continues to grow from strength to strength with each passing year,” said Gono.
“The ideas, dreams and beliefs of today’s youth form the foundation of tomorrow’s communities in our nation, we are dedicated to helping young people share their stories and build a better future.”
“The company also serves as a multicultural collective that aims to produce original Zimbabwean works, at the same time maintaining a company that will combine emerging artists with seasoned professionals. Through these works, the members will be given the opportunity to write, act, direct, design and produce,”
