Theatre Day flops
Apr 01, 2008
THE World Theatre Day celebrations that kicked off last Thursday and ran through the weekend were, to say the least, embarrassing! But spare a tear for poor theatre in Uganda.
By Emmanuel Ssejjengo
THE World Theatre Day celebrations that kicked off last Thursday and ran through the weekend were, to say the least, embarrassing! But spare a tear for poor theatre in Uganda.
Why did the organisers (International Theatre Institute - Uganda chapter) choose to celebrate only one component of theatre? It was music, but the strange pop music that has nothing theatrical about it. What do Mega Dee and Dr. Proppa have to do with a celebration of theatre? And no one seemed to mind about the theme of the day. Although the UNESCO-provided message was lengthy, its central issue was: “The survival of the art of theatre depends on its capacity to reinvent itself by embracing new tools and new languages.†The only music that could be related to theatre was Kadongokamu that was performed on Sunday, the closing day of the celebrations.
Uganda has been a member of the International Theatre Institute since its inception in 1961. But, with the murder of Byron Kawaddwa in 1977 (he was then director of National Theatre), Uganda was banned from the institute. It regained its membership in 1986 and has since then been recognising the day, albeit without its deserved pomp.
But that may change. The weekend’s celebrations saw the opening up of The Artists Circle (TAC) with Gen. Elly Tumwine as its first chairman. And to show that he was one with the artists, he performed a song, Live Your Dream. Tumwine, a one time board chairman at National Theatre who is also credited with opening the cultural village at the same place, was the chief guest. Registration to become a TAC member is ongoing at the National Theatre.
“TAC was formed so that we organise ourselves better to achieve our dream of making Uganda the fourth largest entertainment industry after Holloywood (US), Bollywood (India) and Nollywood (Nigeria),†said Tumwine.
Last year’s World Theatre Day celebrations raised a lot of hope. With the expert performance of Makerere University’s drama students that predicted better rewards for the industry, this year’s leaves us devastated. “A country that has no entertainment has no hope and happiness,†said the chief guest. And unless we find alternative entertainment to what was offered on the World Theatre Day, our happiness is going to be of the deceptive kind.
THE World Theatre Day celebrations that kicked off last Thursday and ran through the weekend were, to say the least, embarrassing! But spare a tear for poor theatre in Uganda.
Why did the organisers (International Theatre Institute - Uganda chapter) choose to celebrate only one component of theatre? It was music, but the strange pop music that has nothing theatrical about it. What do Mega Dee and Dr. Proppa have to do with a celebration of theatre? And no one seemed to mind about the theme of the day. Although the UNESCO-provided message was lengthy, its central issue was: “The survival of the art of theatre depends on its capacity to reinvent itself by embracing new tools and new languages.†The only music that could be related to theatre was Kadongokamu that was performed on Sunday, the closing day of the celebrations.
Uganda has been a member of the International Theatre Institute since its inception in 1961. But, with the murder of Byron Kawaddwa in 1977 (he was then director of National Theatre), Uganda was banned from the institute. It regained its membership in 1986 and has since then been recognising the day, albeit without its deserved pomp.
But that may change. The weekend’s celebrations saw the opening up of The Artists Circle (TAC) with Gen. Elly Tumwine as its first chairman. And to show that he was one with the artists, he performed a song, Live Your Dream. Tumwine, a one time board chairman at National Theatre who is also credited with opening the cultural village at the same place, was the chief guest. Registration to become a TAC member is ongoing at the National Theatre.
“TAC was formed so that we organise ourselves better to achieve our dream of making Uganda the fourth largest entertainment industry after Holloywood (US), Bollywood (India) and Nollywood (Nigeria),†said Tumwine.
Last year’s World Theatre Day celebrations raised a lot of hope. With the expert performance of Makerere University’s drama students that predicted better rewards for the industry, this year’s leaves us devastated. “A country that has no entertainment has no hope and happiness,†said the chief guest. And unless we find alternative entertainment to what was offered on the World Theatre Day, our happiness is going to be of the deceptive kind.