Botswana productions at Zimbabwe's HIFA
Correspondent | Monday May 5, 2014 12:47
On May 1, Blue, Black And White took to the stage at the Zimbabwe College of Music. The audience was comprised of Music College students, theatre practitioners from Zimbabwe and Namibia as well as students of CHIPAWO, a children and young people’s arts organisation, which is hosting the Botswana contingent.
Also present was Omolemo Selato from the Botswana Embassy in Harare.
After watching the show he said: “What you have just presented in one hour is what the embassy has been trying to achieve in four years. We organise workshops and seminars around Zimbabwe trying to teach people about Botswana, about the history of Botswana and what I saw in the last hour captures it all.”
On Friday afternoon the group from Maitisong ran skills exchange workshops in Mbare, one of Harare’s townships. In the evening they joined the Harare International Festival site to relax, enjoy music and experience the great festival.
Still on Friday the Botswana Embassy hosted ambassadors and diplomats to a cocktail and to watch the three shows.
Immediately thereafter, Keneilwe and Morwa were performed at the University of Zimbabwe’s Beit Theatre.
Observing the contrast between Gaborone and Harare Maitisong director Gao Lemmenyane said: “The city centre was abuzz with activity, people making their way home in full buses, others hawking and many relaxing in town having a meal before catching evening shows at HIFA.”
The three shows will stage at Maitisong, Gaborone for an extended run this month: [Keneilwe on May 7, 9, 10, Morwa on May 9,10 and Blue, Black And White on May 8, 9, 10].
All shows start at 7pm and admission is P70 for individual shows on May 7 and 8, then P150 for the triple bills on May 9 and 10. This means all three shows will take place in one evening, one after the other, explained Lemmenyane.