INKULULEKO Yabatsha School of Arts (IYASA) and Theatre Strahl (Berlin- Germany) are working on a collaborative theatre production — Wie Das Wetter? How is the Weather? on climate change which will be showcased in Zimbabwe in May -June.
Their first performance will be held on May 22 in Gwanda at Charles Klein Hall (St. Christopher Primary School), May 25 in Hwange, Little Theatre, and May 29 in Bulawayo Academy of Music then May 31 in Harare, Theatre in the Park.
Performance will be done by Natascha Manthe, Nqobizitha Ncube, Dorcas Ngwenya, Justus Verdenhalven. Costume and Stagedesign: Andreas A. Straßer and assistant Mercy Kayumba.
The partners are Theatre Strahl, NEUSTART KULTUR , Goethe, Theatre In the Park , Shangano Arts Trust and TIME Project.
Iyasa director Nkululeko Innocent Dube told Standard Style that this is theatre for young audiences but also open to all age groups and they seek to base it on young people’s experiences and opinions.
“We are looking for interested schools, classes, and arts clubs to take part in the creative process and even those that wish to watch the production when it plays in their town or city or wherever they can be able to attend, before it moves to Germany,” he said.
“While some are chatting about the weather, others watch in alarm as the world's climate continues to get worse.
“The news reports hurricanes, floods of the century and droughts. All over the world, (young) people are raising their voices and taking to the streets: what does their future look like in a world that has long been on fire?”
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Dube said the African continent is one of the first to suffer the consequences of global warming.
“Zimbabwe and Germany have completely different starting situations,” he said.
“The production seeks an exchange to address the climate catastrophe in a global context and creates emotional access to a topic that forces us to pull together like no other.
“It brings together theatre and visions from two countries and asks the big question of how things can continue: with us and with the earth.
“Climate change is topical at the moment. We cannot ignore it.
“We are happy to bring together two theatre companies from different parts of the world to try and interrogate how it is affecting us in both continents.
“We have worked with Theatre Strahl before and they are no strangers to Zimbabwe. This is a chance especially for young people to give us their opinions and concerns on the effects or possible solutions to negative impacts of climate change.
Dube added: “We are ready. We hope that before the show moves to Germany, our Zimbabwean audience gives it deserved recognition, attention and support.”
