New playwrights to premiere at HIFA

laywrights to create fresh, original Zimbabwean scripts that would premiere at HIFA 2007. At the same time, these writers would be establishing networks internationally that would further stimulate new ideas and institute relationships with other scriptwriters from around the world.
12 writers were selected through the first phase of the project and mentored by playwrights from two of London’s ‘new writing’ theatres, the Royal Court and The Soho Theatre. This work culminated in a reading performance that was enthusiastically received at HIFA 2006.
With HIFA 2007 just over 6 months away, the project goes into its second and most important phase. A panel of both local and international mentors have chosen five writers from the original 12 whose writing will be further honed to produce finished works.
The five writers chosen are new faces on the local theatrical scene and include Eresina Hwede, a writer with Global Arts; Mandisi Gobodi, a TV writer, director and producer, from Bulawayo; Patrick Mahlasera, a student with the Zimbabwe Open University; Tafadzwa Muzondo, founder of the Edzai Isu Theatre Arts Project and Tawanda Kanengoni, a Law Student at the University of Zimbabwe. They now embark on an intensive six-month process to write five new plays that will premiere at HIFA, 1-6 May, 2007. – Own correspondent