Iyasa to unveil new production on European tour



ZIMBABWE’s multi award winning performing arts company, Inkululeko Yabatsha School of Arts (IYASA) is on a five month European tour where they are set to unveil their latest production, Streets of Africa.

 

The latest production, a musical, which premiered in Vienna, where the group is based seeks to showcase the transition Zimbabwean culture has gone through in the last few decades.It premiered in Vienna on the 20th of March. The ten member team will also take their act to Japan, Czech Republic and the United Kingdom in July and August. In Austria they will be rejoined by Futurelove Sibanda, one of the best products to emerge from the group. He is currently studying in Austria.The other team which at the moment is in Zimbabwe is set to travel to Mexico in May.In an interview with The Mail from their base in Vienna, the group’s artistic Director, Nkululeko Innocent Dube said there were excited about the new production.We are really excited about our new musical, Streets of Africa. Through this musical we want to show the world how Zimbabwe has moved from traditional to modern culture, without despising our history and traditions,” he said.

“It is also meant to demonstrate to the world how things are done in the streets of Africa’s most popular cities. The streets of Bulawayo are not by any means from any of the streets in Africa but they are different from those of London, Berlin or any other European city."



He added that they will also do a lot of collaborations with actors and theatre companies in countries where they will be performing.

“We have a lot of our independent productions but in some we will combine with Austrian performers, dancers, directors in international co productions. We also cater for varying audiences. The young audiences and adult audiences so we also include in our package, children’s plays and other productions specifically for adult audience,” said Dube.

The older productions which will be show cased during the tour include Spirit of Afrika, Umntwana we Afrika, Elephanten Mond, Zebra, Afikanische marchen among others.Spirit of Afrika has been one of the popular productions produced by the Bulawayo based group. It is a powerful celebration of thrilling energy, melodious voices, pounding drums and rhythms and inspirational dances from Zimbabwe and across Southern Africa.

The show expresses and presents a true traditional and original menu of musical and dance heritage of Africa. The group has not disappointed over the years and now commands a huge following in most European countries where they have become ambassadors of Zimbabwe’s culture and entertainment.


Source : By Lesley Moyo (THE MAIL-Zimbabwe)