Time to enter for the Zabalaza Theatre Festival

Earlier this year a new identity, mission, vision and format was launched, introducing the dynamic new team spearheading one of South Africa's leading development theatre festivals for young community-based theatre-makers and groups, largely focused on the Western Cape. The award-winning trio who now lead the festival are Thami Mbongo (artistic director), Zoleka Helesi (co-ordinator) and Bongile Mantsai (financial manager).

Last year the Zabalaza team visited community theatre groups and theatre-makers at their rehearsal venues throughout the Western Cape to view the work and work spaces and to invite them to participate in the two mini festivals which were held in April at the Zolani Centre in Nyanga East and Lookout Hill in Khayelitsha. From the mini festivals 11 productions and an additional one from the Eastern Cape were selected for staging at the 2011 Zabalaza Theatre Festival.

"One of the key successes of the festival was the attentive mentoring process and the careful selection of the line-up for the main programme," explains Thami Mbongo. "Therefore, we will build on that strength and take Zabalaza 2012 to an even higher level by offering diverse and exciting work of a high standard. It is paramount to us that the festival represents the cultural diversity and richness of the Western Cape people."

Inviting community theatres and professionals

"We are looking for any theatre shows done by community theatre groups and theatre-makers who are not yet established as writers and directors in local mainstream theatre," says Zoleka Helesi. "Professional actors and actresses who want to venture into theatre writing and directing are more than welcome to participate. We would particularly like to encourage young female directors to become involved with the festival."

Submissions for the 2012 programme close on 4 November 2011 and should reach the festival office by no later than 5pm. Applications should be sent to the Zabalaza Theatre Festival, Baxter Theatre Centre, Main Road, Rondebosch, faxed to 021 680 3992, or emailed to moc.liamg@lavitsefazalabaz. For further enquiries contact Zoleka Helesi on 021 680 3980 or cell 084 047 8480.

Application forms may be obtained from the Baxter Theatre, downloaded from the website at www.baxter.co.za or from www.facebook.com/zabalazafestival. Theatre-makers and groups are also welcome to invite the Zabalaza team to their own rehearsal venues to present their work for consideration. Productions which are selected from this first round of applications and auditions will be invited to participate in the mini festivals which are planned for December this year.