Amakhosi Theater

Amakhosi in its drive to re brand has introduced a new brand for its theater performances. Termed Theatre Upstairs @ Amakhosi and it is definitely set to be one of Zimbabwe’s most prestigious stages, taking only carefully selected works to be showcased. It is a stand-alone brand promoting only theatre, the first works of which will be showcased on the 28^th to the 31^st of October 2009. The stage, which is to be regulated by policy, will focus on fostering mature talent as well as growing newly discovered talent through the proper process where it is identified, trained and ultimately put to the test.

Membership
Theatre Upstairs @ Amakhosi will be managed and run using an audience membership based program. Currently carefully selected members of the public are being approached in a bid to have them register membership with the theatre. Friends of Theater Upstairs @ Amakhosi will pay an annual subscription fee, and this will go towards ensuring continuity and funding of the stage.

Pool of Actors
Because theatre upstairs will be a prestigious stage, a pool of hand picked actors will be awarded the privilege of being part of the cast. So far veteran actors that have been approached and have showed interest in being in the pool include, Sarah Mpofu, Zenzo Nyathi, Mandla Moyo, Prince Zulu, Fanwell Chimbali, Herbert Phiri, Thompson Bhanda (Popularly known as Calabash) and Cyprian Tazarurwa. More actors are being approached for the pool. All actors that have agreed to perform on this stage understand that it is not a donor funded stage but it receives all of its funding from the members and the audience.

Creative Directors
The creative directors who will be awarded the opportunity to showcase their products will also come from a carefully selected pool. So far Cont and Mgcini Nyoni, also known as Shepherd Mandhlazi, a new generation writer and also a product of Amakhosi Academy, will have the honor of having their plays showcased on the stage. Selection of creative directors for the stage is still on going and interested designers, writers directors etcetera are advised to get in touch with the Theater Manager.

What you can already look forward to The Three Principals

Theatre Upstairs @ Amakhosi is to premier in a big way by showcasing Cont Mhlanga’s latest political satire. Aptly named The Three Principals, the satire will be Mr. Mhlanga’s first work after the Global Political Agreement. As is the norm with most of his plays Cont is poking satire at the way our leaders go about Governing and this time he is focusing on the way national healing and constitution making processes are progressing. The Three Principals will be showcased at the Theatre Upstairs @ Amakhosi on the 28^th to the 31^st of October 2009. Any theatre lover who has been following Cont’s plays just has to be at the theatre on the said dates to know how the satire will tackle the issues. This is an invitation to all theatre lovers wherever you are, the dates and venue have been set, it is now up to you to support what could easily be the only stage in Zimbabwe that is currently not donor funded. The three-cast play will feature great talent of Mandla Moyo, Fanwell Chimbali and Zenzo Nyathi all with over 15 years of stage experience. A must see production for theater lovers of all ages. There will be school shows during the day and drama teachers should book their schools now.

Poetic Journey

Poetic journey is a theatrical production that is written and co-directed by a yet to be named director. The play will premier on the 25^th of November 2009 and run for four days as well. To know who will make the cast for this play, watch this space for details. If you are interested in being invited to the Theater Upstairs @ Amakhosi premier show, please do get in touch with the Theatre Manager on the email:

thetheatremanager@amakhosi.org
Or call The Theatre manager on the numbers:

00263 9 885079/ 00263 9 62652
00263 11 333 784

INXUSA CULTRAL EXPO If you have been following Amakhosi you will know that way back in 1990 Inxusa Festival was born. Starting off as tenth anniversary celebrations, the festival went on to run for eight consecutive years. After a long eleven years of strategizing the Festival is back and threatening to be the next best thing in southern Africa. Inxusa Cultural Expo is on a three-year cycle plan, with the first ever expo being in December the 17^th to the 20^th at the ZITF grounds. The Expo will be programmed in such a way that there 8 different pavilions running parallel within the four days. Listed below are the pavilions that you can look forward to

1. PAVLLION PERFORMANCES-DAILY

a. Dance Pavilion

Gule wa Mkulu Stage
Isitshikitsha and Mdadada Stage
Urban Contemporary Stage: hip hop, kwaito, cramp, house, pansula,

b. Music Pavilion

Jazz Stage
Urban Contemporary Stage
Gospel Stage
Classical Stage
Traditional Stage

                     c. Arts and Crafts Exhibition Hall-DAILY
                     d. Fine Arts Pavilion- DAILY
                    e. Literature Pavilion- DAILY

Poetry
Readings
Books and Publications

f. Film and Video Pavilion-DAILY
g. Theater Pavilion-DAILY

Comedy Stage
Drama Stage
Stand up comedy Stage
Theater for Development Stage
Scripts and Published Plays Stage

h. Fashion Pavilion-DAILY

Corporate Participation

Inxusa Cultural expo is currently calling on companies, organizations and even individuals to come and exhibit their wares at the expo. Exhibition space I still available but fast running out. For further information on the way the expo is programmed, how your company can acquire exhibition space and how you can take advantage of the nations premier event, visit our website, www.inxusaculturalexpo.org alternatively you can drop an email to loraine@inxusaculturalexpo.org