The Sunday Mail
THEATRE in the Park has become a one-stop-shop arts center following a decision by the venue owner to extend a lifeline to other “dying forms” of art. In an interview last week, the proprietor Davies Guzha, told our leisure reporter Prince Mushawevato that more units catering for different arts needs are set to be opened at the recently commissioned arts centre.
Already the joint has introduced Jazz Sundays, a move that has been embraced by the mature followers of the genre that previously felt left out.
Read On . . .
Q: The introduction of new events at Theatre in the Park is a clear shift from your core business. What is the rationale behind the move?
A: Theatre in the Park has certification for quite a number of things. But that certification is for theatre itself because that is our core business. We have actually increased our performance dates since we opened. We started off with two performances per week and then we moved on to three now we are on five performances per week. However, we have also looked around and actually seen the possibility of integrating other art forms and those other art forms include jazz music. For us jazz is a dying art form so deliberately we have since introduced what we call “Jazz on Sundays”. Thus, every Sunday from 2pm to 6pm that is what we will be doing. Basically we are to rescue art forms that we feel are not getting airplay or major support. We scanned around and noticed Zim dancehall is ruling, sungura has support but in terms of jazz, which is for the mature crowd, those that want to sit, relax, enjoy a drink listening to good music in a calm environment, that was not really happening and the decision to include them fits in well within our set framework.
Q: Apart from Jazz music, what else will you be bringing?
A: The other certification we have is that of cinema. And our cinema is very deliberate. Yes, we will contaminate it here and there naturally like any other theatre programme but our biggest thrust is African films where again we looked around and noticed that people are saying they do bioscopes but they is no venue to showcase it. If you are not watching the productions from YouTube or if you are not stumbling upon some DVD copy when you are actually in town, you hardly know where to get that stuff.
Q: What difference is this new place and concept going to bring?
A: Having actually attempted to do premieres at other venues, they proved to be small – taking in a hundred or so people, we thought this does not suit in well with what filmmakers are trying to achieve. Other venues are perfect but come with an impossible price tag. And sometimes the premises are not being handled in manner that is appealing to the filmmakers so we are offering this group the venue. We have done music, we have done cinema and more is coming at this place. The other certification we have is for debate, robust debates. We are strong believers that as Zimbabweans there are certain issues that we would like to engage our policy makers on. So ultimately our structure is slightly different. We will end of May launch a programme called “State of the Nation”, that will be a summary of major events of the week selected from all mainstream media platforms. It will be showcased every Saturday evening through comedy, theatre acts etcetera. The plays will address topical issues like the current cash crisis and “zvihuta” (quail birds) through skits that give or provoke relevant solutions from producers and the audiences.
Q: Are you saying policymakers cannot deliberate these issues without artistes help?
A: There are issue that are difficult to address at political levels but can diligently be addressed through theatre and other forms of art. No subject is sacred with us artistes including contentious issues like Gukurahundi. We have solutions or keys to solutions to a number of social issues that we experience as a country.
Q: Apart from the performing platform, how else will artistes benefit?
A: We have space for rehearsals for all Harare-based theatre companies and artistes and it is for free. This also gives us a chance to see the kind of programmes being developed out there. Once we see them, we will get and programme the concepts when it excites us. Above all we are responding to the dire needs of a sector that has limited space for arts rehearsal. Community halls are usual booked mostly by politicians or hosts other events like church services that have nothing to do with arts. Add to that, a multi-disciplinary library that has theatre, dance, music, basically everything is going to be introduced. The thrust of the library will be universal. The trend in Europe is that when you do an academic thesis you find it in the public domain but that is not the case here. It is hidden in some file at a university library and that is costing us as arts practitioners, we need the information readily available and the library will guarantee that. Files are important for capturing accurate history and Africa does need this.
Q: When do you expect to be running at full capacity?
A: The units will be commissioned as we go. So far we have commissioned the performance space where we do shows and rehearsals and more units will follow. Like this Friday (last week) we have Mokoomba and Sunday we have jazz groups performing. It is gradual.
Q: But will the new approach not affect theatre enthusiasts’ perception of you considering you are generally regarded as a theatre person as opposed to music and the likes?
A: Our theatre programming is consistent. They start at 6pm and we are accommodating other events in times that we refer to as dead hours. The world has evolved and we have to move in line with trends. We now leave in a world that can best be described as social entrepreneurship. The world economy is in trouble. Back in the days we would get money from donors but we have moved to a point where we generate our own money. The content is no longer donor dominated or agenda driven as assumed before. We need to adopt initiatives that will help us self-fund and that is not an issue.
Q: Where do you see this vision in five years?
A: We are going to outgrow this place in terms of audience in two years not five. It will be difficult for people to just come and buy tickets on the day of the event. Tickets or space will be purchased and/or booked in advance. That is where we are heading. The justification is one on the fact that are pricing pegged at US$3 for adults and US$1 for students and artistes is fair. We also have a package where we are offering schools discounts. Secondly, art is going to provide fellowship just like church and we will be active in that regard.
Q: Funding is a common challenge, where are you getting funds for your projects?
A: Right now we are self-sustaining. To build the structure, yes, we got support from the Norwegian and Swedish embassies and Hivos. But content will generate funds for itself. Naturally banks are supposed to finance construction but they are not interested in making such commitments. Instead they are focusing on issuing loans for dead assets like constructing million dollar houses at the expense of developing arts. For instance, why has it taken 56 years for this city to be interested in building a theatre centre? The last theatre center to be built in Harare is Reps Theatre, which was built in 1960. Our infrastructural development is not matching the size and growth of our population. It is our hope that infrastructural development like Theatre in the Park is the beginning of big things to come. This is what we have managed and we want others to come in and build different centers in different parts of the capital.
Q: Are you free to have musicians outside jazz music have live gigs at this place?
A: Not really, but we will deal with it on a case by case basis. We are passionate about the family that is why we have given the venue to Chipawo. But to us a family show is not a night show. It must be an afternoon show. If it falls in that category we will give out the space. Our aim is to create a similar event environment like the one we grew up in when we used to attend shows like “Mukadota Family”. The wholesomeness of the family has disappeared and we want to bring it back. Add to that, we also want someone to come and spruce up the children’s park, which is behind this centre. Basically we need support in selling Harare as a safe destination and marketing Harare Gardens as place to be just like is the case with the Madison Square Garden in the USA.
