Celebrated English stage director John Caird due in Kampala

KAMPALA - Celebrated English writer and stage director John Newport Caird is set to visit Uganda later this month to direct performances at a concert at Ndere Cultural Center in Kampala on August 23.

The 'At Home in the World' cultural concert will see Ugandan dancers, Japanese Taiko drumming and a choral singing group from the US share the stage.

Caird's work includes plays, musicals and operas and as a director, he won a Tony Award for Les Miserables and both a Tony and an Olivier Award for the ground-breaking production of Nicholas Nickelby.

From left, orphaned students Michael Kasozi, Oneile Baitlotli and the Vice Director of Ashinaga Uganda Yuka Yamada. (Credit: Abou Kisige)

Orphaned students under the care of Ashinaga Uganda during a press briefing at Ashinaga Uganda in Kampala. (Credit: Abou Kisige)

Ashinaga Uganda's executive director Yuka Yamada said the concert which will be free of charge and will be aimed at bringing different cultures together on one stage.

"The young performers grew up in contrasting cultures and environments of unique backgrounds and the concert is aimed at bringing them together through their shared passion for the arts," she said.

Hers is an NGO providing ambitious orphaned and bereaved students from Sub-Saharan Africa with opportunities for higher education at the world's leading universities.

Stephen Rwangyenzi, the director of Ndere Cultural Center said he is excited about the coming of Caird, saying that it will uplift Uganda's performing arts globally.

Director of Ndere Cultural Centre Stephen Rwangyenzi addresses a press conference recently. (Credit: Abou Kisige)

"When a country like Uganda hosts a person of his stature in arts, it is a clear sign that Uganda's performing arts has grown and heading to the right direction and I would like to commend the Ashinaga Uganda management for making the concert free and we are looking forward to seeing nine acres of Ndere Center filled up," he said.

Rwangyenzi, also known for his role in The Last King Scotland (2006), War Dance (2007) and Cultures of Resistance (2010), advised parents to ensure that they follow up their children's talents at an early age so that they can be developed and enhanced to suit them to a global standard.

"Musicians, dancers and actors usually welcome high profile people like presidents, bishops, and ministers among others and this tells you the importance of performing arts. Therefore parents should not take it for granted," he said.

The government is currently reviewing the curriculum and creative arts (music, dance and drama) is going to become one of the eight learning areas.