The Lost Key

MAPEACOCKS RENDERS WHAT A WOMAN NEEDS by News Team

Solomonic Peacocks staged yet another exciting production titled “the needs of a woman”. It was performed at Jacaranda Culture Centre (JCC) in Blantyre. For the past seventeen years Mapeacocks have been leading contemporary theatre in domestically as they try to maintain the momentum they decided to produce this master piece. The one hour long play had controversial themes such as adultery and barrenness.

The true life story talks about a woman whose rich husband is impotent and seek a child from a not so well to do guy. The play allowed the audience to ask themselves question they initially thought could be easily answered question like “what are the needs of a woman”.

The contemporary set of the play quantified the desires of a married Woman, it is every woman's dream to get married, have a child, and have a happy family. The play narrates a true life story which was twisted into a script by Fumban Innot Phiri. Most African marriages around the world are shaken because of miss interpretation of the term ‘’ marriage’’

Induna Matiki played  by Matukuta

The main aim for the show was to support the trip of the Theatre’s artistic director MacArthur Matukuta, who will be travelling to Switzerland to pursue a masters in expanded theatre at Bern University. The show was to raise funds of the trip. In his words he pleaded to the general public. As the journey of Matukuta approaches, the director has left a charm in both the actors and students to continue with the fire that has always been there in Solomonic Peacocks show. The show was also a farewell to Malawian audience.

The play feature Fumbani Phiri, Wiseman Kadzandira, Mathews Khonati, MacArthur Matukuta, Jimmy Maole, Florence Magombo, Lydia Banda and Martha Chalamba.

The performance was nice and creatively stage. The performance was highly appreciated and loved by the audience. The audience found it entertaining in a funny way. The production successfully managed to arouse a mixture of emotions in people, leaving them with questions in the end.

A scene of conflict in marriage

With improvements from the last production and numerous additional elements to spice up the production. Sadly, for the fans, it was the last time seeing MacArthur Matukuta on stage for the next one year six months. Never the less the last scene had a weakness of taking too long before setting. After the performance, the group was open to critics, questions and compliments. But nonetheless equally interesting as it captured an important message.

It is not what a man wants

The play assured the fans that, the director has left a charm in both the actors and students and even in his absence the Solomonic Peacocks will continue marching with theatrical confidence towards the sun and beyond. because he will be living Malawi to Switzerland where he is going to study further in Theatre and he is asking the general public for financial support amounting to K1.6 Million equivalent to US$ 2192 for his trip to be successful. Those who want to support him should visit Jacaranda Cultural Centre who are responsible for his trip. Remember blessed is the hand that give.

jacarandaculturalcenter@gmail.com

Theatre for Climate change 2

Theatre for Climate Change

https://youtu.be/ikLCt_ZHQEM

https://youtu.be/ikLCt_ZHQEM

MAPEACOCKS BRINGS STREET THEATRE FROM SA

By Innot Fumban Phiri Jnr.
B1 seminar was more than extraordinary experience as LEAD project takes its centre stage, from Germany young trainees from 9 countries across the world converge in South Africa. The Seminar which launched late in April in the Germany where two representatives from participating countries like Malawi, Uganda, Germany, Israel, Bosnia, Ukraine, Tunisia and South Africa were present. Lydia and Jacky will leaved on 24^th June for B1 one Seminar in South Africa to highlight the theme Cultural Diversity.

Get to know the place, when the trainees arrived In Johannesburg they were taken to tour several place across South Africa. The first trip they toured in Pretoria where in places like; Freedom Park and Mandela park at these park’s they were getting exposed to the into the history of South Africa. They also learn Zulu cultural believes where they were taken to cradle of humankind right there in Pretoria. The next tour was of Johannesburg and Soweto, where at Johannesburg they visited Museum and go through some dance move lessons. Then at Soweto they go to see Mandela House and Soweto school where hundreds of students were killed during 90s state of emergency.

That was all for the touring and on the second week, the seminar activities begun, the first activity was Team building workshop by Shirra from Israel. Shirra continues with other two presentations like creative thinking and problem solving. Her last presentation was Feedback workshop. A Germany Coordinator Mike, kirk start with a presentation on Communication and the walk of Privilege.

Before a presentation by Lydia and Jack, there was a presentation workshop by International Coordinator, Collina. The presentation was called Theatre of Oppressed the workshop was clearly connected to the theatre piece which Lydia and Jack perform. The performance was great and touching as the Solomonic youngster delivers strong message on issues of Xenophobia, Racism and Albino killing. The contemporary theatre piece has been adopted to be one of the key element of implementing the whole project.

The next phase of the seminar was developing project of which three project were identified. Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, German and Israel are in a project of climate change. Whistle the other will have deal with Post-Pregedes and Environmental Action. Before the departure day the trainees went on SABC radio interviews to talk more of the project.

A bring home package is to work produce a video documentary of about climate change if that is not enough ten street theatre production has to be produced and staged across Malawi from September to March 2018. The street there will be based on climate change in form of theatre for development (TfD). The project will be launched in September together will Germans, South Africans, Ugandan and Israelites. As for Mapeacocks side host such project will be beneficial to the national.

The Needs of a Woman

FROM CAPE OF GOOD HOPE by Fumban Innot Phiri

Assitej World Congress at City Hall

As the exploration for theatre for children and young remain the case to push on and on my vision grills for a solution. As I peeps through the doors of small oven of networks that baked future actors of this nation; talk of Association for Teaching English in Malawi (ATEM) drama festival, National Schools Youth Arts Festival and French Drama years has gone wasting some great young actors and actress we see shining on stage for the past seven years. I want to see those actors we use to share stage way back at school which some of them were better than me.

The Opening day

My eagerness to revive the future for theatre for children and young people revolves the time I joined the Solomonic Peacocks Theatre Class, the class focus on theatre for young people and cultural ex-change thus when we come across the French acronym ASSITEJ (Association International du Theatre pour l' Enfance et la Jeunesse). Which simply means the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People.That acronym name ASSITEJ which lands me into a great experience world festival in Cape Town. It was the first of its kind of world festival to take place in Africa, The festival bring together, artist, theatre and organization from all corners of the world which there many focus is theatre for children and young. I was part of the 30 young artist selected from different countries into the Next Generation Residency.

Part of Next Generation on first meeting

Yah the Next Generation group, I don’t know how to express this family, call it big brother without evictions. 11 days in the house of festival full of theatre arenas, cultural hubs and conference halls I felt a complete artist. We speak the artistic language day in day out, there was a lot of inter-cultural exchange, theatre workshops, paper presentations, theatre performances and of cause of the ASSITEJ World congress. All these exploration and exposure still flows in my artistic mind now it’s time to deliver them back to my fellow youth in Malawi.

Fun Like

From left 2nd Assitej President Yvette, Lungile and Jacq

But wait a minute, back at Cape Town, we begun Artscape where a lot of festival activities takes place, quickly in the noon of the opening day there was a lot before it kicks off. At the main event venue all delegates from different countries across the world converge at Arts-Cape theatre for the first show Animal Farm by Shakexperience Theatre from Johannesburg, then at 15hours we board buses to Baxter Theatre Centre which is 25 kilomtre away Artscape for the opening ceremony. Thus how it starts.

As being part of the next generation I went through five workshops from; Theatre for Education, Theatre for Healing, Physical Theatre, playwright global and Theatre for Social change and there was more to experience. Back home now am put gear to with my fellow youth to quickening the opening of Assitej Centre in my country.  What I gained from where Bartolomeu Dias discovered I have started delivering it. An advocate for the promotion of theatre for young audiences will go far beyond my nation.

 

 

Through the Lens

 

 

 

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THIS IS THE GENESIS by Mapeacocks



World Congress at Cape Town City Hall

As he set for Cape Town on Tuesday 16^th of May, Malawian youth will anticipate more from his trip as he will explore more from 19^th Assitej Conference which is taking place in Cape Town South Africa. ASSITEJ SA invited Fumban Innot Phiri from Malawi under Solomonic Peacocks Theatre to participate in the Next Generation Residency Programme at the 19th ASSITEJ World Congress and Performing Arts Festival, Cradle of Creativity, in Cape Town in May 2017.

The Next Generation, Phiri in the middle down.

ASSITEJ is the international association of theatre for children and young people, and operates in more than 100 countries. ASSITEJ is committed to engaging young and emerging artists and professional theatre-makers from all over the world interested in Theatre for Young Audiences. The ASSITEJ Next Generation Residency Programme is designed to create new opportunities for learning and to enable international exchange and collaboration between younger artists. Artists in the residency will be able to view productions, take workshops, participate in discussions and attend a variety of Focus Day sessions related to different themes within Theatre for Young Audiences.

“Talking of theatre for young people this is the beginning and a good way to start is by export as talented youth to be exposed across the world of theatre” Solomonic Executive director explains. Now the question is who is Fumban Innot Phiri jnr. In the Malawian theatre books.

Fumban Innot Phiri is an Actor and a Script Writer at Solomonic Peacocks Theatre and currently being trained as a theatre director under Solomonic peacocks’ theatre class and studying Journalism at the University of Malawi-The Polytechnic. Off stage Innot has worked widely in theatre super vision and is the Festival Coordinator of National School Youth Arts Festival and a Part Time director of theatre in several high/secondary schools.

Fumban is also a poet and has compose about 15 poems, His motivation is to help install the creative arts in Malawi as tool of development. On the stage Fumban has worked as both actor, playwright and director. He has performed about 10 majors’ plays and write approximately 30 productions to date.In 2015 he shakes the stage of Blantyre Culture Centre during Blantyre Arts Festival with a play titled “The Marauding Beast” despite being the main actor in the play he was also behind paper and pen of the script.

Fumban During African Playwrights Presentation

Now let’s forget about his background and more talk on what he will bring from Assitej. Today is on his 7^th day at Cape Town.

“Days are few but a lot has been taking place, as quickly on the opening day there was a lot before it kicks off. At the main event venue all delegates from different countries across the world converge at Arts-Cape theatre for the first show Animal Farm by Shakexperience Theatre from Johannersburg, South Africa then at 15hours we board buses to Baxter Theatre Centre which is 25 kilomtre away for the opening ceremony” Phiri explains…

“As being part of the next generation of this festival there is more for my country in just 7 days I went through five workshops from; Theatre For Education, Theatre for Healing, Physical Theatre and to Theatre for Social change and there is more to experience here at cape town” From what he says there is hope for Theatre in Malawi to revive.




Fun Time

Performance by kidz from Zimbabwe

Fumban will be back this Saturday on 27^th May, as from Solomonic Theatre class they are just waiting what will be in the basket from Capetown.

MEET VITU’S EXPRESSION AT SOLOMONIC by Vitumbiko Gwambaike, Edited by Innot Fumban Phiri Jnr.

I started going to Solomonic peacocks theater two years ago because of my friends Fumban and Wiseman whom l have known in around 2012 at Nyamitambo arts palace, we were doing English stage drama but let’s save more about Nyamitambo arts palace for another time. In the last two years my presence at solomonic had been on and off mainly because of school since I am now pursuing my first degree at the university of Malawi Chancellor College and am going in my final year so I usually go to solomonic during holidays



Vitu pose at Show

My journey at solomonic have been so far great mainly because of experience am getting interms of theatrical performances, sorry I forget to tell you that I am majoring in drama and minoring in philosophy hence theatre has been part of me and the experience I obtained from solomonic during holidays has been just awesome for my career as an actor, director and a script writer. In my school we learn a lot of things theoretically but we luck that punch of doing the same stuff on the ground and Solomonic has been helping me how I can implement what I have learnt in class into practical. Mr matukuta and the whole solomonic management trusted me and my colleague Dalistani Alsemo to help our friends on script writing and theater for development and I handled the latter.

Theater for development is now one of the most flourishing theater in developing countries including Malawi and a lot of organisation are using it to spread messages across the country. I studied theater for development three years ago when I was in my 2^nd year and I have been going out with different organisation like CREECOM, Arts and Global health centre Africa, Africa cooperation for community development and other as a TFD troop member and a facilitator. As a facilitator I usually meet with drama club members in different areas and most of the club members I have worked with are primary school dropout but this was not the case with solomonic were the majority of the members have secondary certificate and are now pursuing diplomas and degrees in different colleges.

Theatre For Development by Mapeacoks Theatre Class

When Mr Matukuta approach me to help my colleagues on TFD my body filled with fear for unknown reasons but my main worry was that the people whom am about to take my lesson to are my friends, moreover to teacher someone (Fumbani) who introduced me into acting and he is quite experience script writing of which to I have to went the corridors of university of Malawi in order to be a script writer. So the question I was having in my mind was “are they going to listen to me and take me serious?” the other worry was that almost all the members were my age mates and you know how we youth underage each other regardless of the message. So I went home and prepare for my lesson and the next time I come it was boom!! I killed it all the fears went abroad and there I was in front of the whole members’ transferring my knowledge of the TFD to people who only about less than 20% knew about TFD as show during the pre evaluation. I must admit here I enjoyed my lesson because the participants were very active, people who were eager to know and I remember they could shower me with questions so that they should really understand the whole concepts of TFD and I really enjoyed it.  

I didn’t have really time to fixture in their plays but I can testify here that the time I was there doing there practise for plays like Romeo and Juliet, A children play for St Patrick’s, the sensitization play on HIV testing and treatment were all moments to be cherished because I learnt a lot as a theatre practitioner and as an individual since I encountered with different people with different back ground. Lastly I want to thank the management and the whole Solomonic team for the great time I have with them, I can’t wait for another holiday to come here again.

Easter Theatre Festival Pro

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAlvegeccvM

MAPEACOCKS ANTICIPATE MORE IN LEAD PROJECT By Innot Fumban Phiri Jnr.

The team on skate Board

Art is a powerful apparatus, a great key for social change as Mapeacocks representatives in Lead project jets in last Saturday from Germany, after spending six days in the city of Bremen. The interaction comprises of team leaders from nine countries; Germany, Israel, Malawi, Uganda, Brazil, South Africa, Ukraine, Bosnia and Tunisia.

The arrived on Saturday through Munich Airport, then Bremen City. On Sunday morning the group went on mountain hiking which drive on the purpose of knowing each other, in a centre of people different countries with different ethnicity, there was a need to know each other and cultural interaction in order to move out with the project. In the Evening it turned into more comprehensive presentation where by Mapeacocks out beat every country.

Lydia & Jacky During Presentation

The presentation was more critical but much creative as Mapeacocks turn the paper work into a theatrical atmosphere. At the end Malawi’s presentation was outstanding and much appreciated by all countries. The presentation continues in the following day which was closed by South Africa. Based on the theme “Leadership Education and Development” has been insight from sustainable development goals. The group were equipped with leadership skills and project management in readiness for the project.

Mountain Hiking

After the workshop the group given tusk in different groups to work on sample project as a preparatory test. After two years two years the project will turn into a five years project as team leaders will lead their respective country. Lead project is being executed by Lead Peer International.

The end was filled with partnership, interaction and exchange of idea by my Malawi and Egypt. As the team leaders return home last Saturday, Mapeacocks see the project as a good kirk start. Next is B1-seminar which will take place in July in South Africa.

MAPEACOCKS SET FOR GERMANY LEAD PROJECT By Fumban Innot Phiri Jnr.

Off the stage, less talking of art but let’s discourse about youth and leadership a subordinate topic which you can gain as a student of Solomonic theatre class. In that effort from Mapeacocks two students under theatre class were selected to take part In 2017 and 2018, "Peer-Leader-International" qualifies 20 young people who work as team leaders in *non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Germany and 9 countries of the global South including Malawi.

To the left Is Jack Msumba and Right is Lydia Banda

Aware and fair project started in 2013 here in Malawi the project is being run by Solomonic Peacocks theatre and two years after Solomonic Peacocks introduced Theatre class where they mentor youth in theatre, leadership and Entrepreneurship. From the Theatre Class; Lydia Banda and Jack Msumba were selected as team leaders of the project representing Malawi. The LEAD project will run for two years from 2017 to 2019 and it is involving countries like Germany, Ukraine, Bosnia, Israel, Tunisia, Egypt, Uganda, Malawi, Republic of South Africa and Brazil.

These team leader will have to give out a presentation based on a theme “Leadership Education and Development” There will also have symposium and presentation and trainees will go through different workshops like; Theatre introduction, Skills lab Video Editing and filming, Project Management and Creation.



During Blantyre Arts Festival, Lydia to the right and Jack on the middle of the two maidens

The main aim of the project is train young people to become future leaders of civil society organizations in their respective countries. They have to become catalysts of change that we want to see in the world by creating global citizens. The development of leadership competences, intercultural competences and competences for the management of North-South youth initiatives and networks local and international, in direct encounters and through the use of media and understand globalization and sustainability concepts.

Lydia standing during kukhala kundende play

Solomonic has been in front of driving youth into a centre of leadership through art under the theatre class, in 2013 and 2015 Solomonic Peacocks theatre travelled with Chichiri sec students to Hannover in Germany and Poznan in Poland respectively under Ware and fair project. With this background enrich the power of driving the lead project into a greater benefit of the youth of Malawi and global at large.

Jack on The Great Famine Play

Lydia and Jack will present what we call contemporary theatre in storyline a furrowed to the theme; “Leadership Education and Development” “Set in a remote village of northern region of Malawi, the Inkosi land two love birds set to unite families from two different tribes. The Story visualize some traditional dance and other Malawi’s cultural elements” This presentation has just outline the uniqueness and creative mind from what they have been drilled under the theatre class.

Despite this Lead project Lydia and Jack has been involved several projects under Solomonic; Mindset Change, Theatre for Education, other arts festivals and intercultural competences, with this experience, it will help them to contribute a lot in this Lead project.


Jack  and Lydia as Romeo and Juliet

They will depart from Malawi on 7^th April, Friday and return on 14^th April. The conference will take place in Bremen, about 10 countries will converge in Bremen to approve own ideas in different fields of practice, getting to know different perspectives and areas of focus of the partner organizations and applying the learned. Just to highlight on the theme; Leadership Education and Development, the focal areas of educating the youth to become future leaders towards sustainable development goals.

MAPEACOCKS ON THEATRE FOR CHILDREN By: Mwai Wiseman Kadzandira

The pupils on dancing performance

A very beautiful and brighter day of 4^th April 2017, a day were by Mapeacocks met handsome and beautiful young gentlemen and ladies from St Patrick’s Academy (primary). The toddlers had a lovely morning a morning full of joy and fun in overall they had a rousing morning.

At exactly 8:30 am the fun began by teaching the young ones theatre games the likes of ‘’ I PEPETA’’ this is a theatre game where by a person enters on the middle of the circle made by the people and starts a song and the others copies in short it’s a do as I do kind of game, the kids loved this game because it was their time to shine they had to show their free styles and it was played amazingly and they were easy to cop up.


Mapeacocks actors teaching pupils fro St Patricks Academy dance

The second game it was ‘’TOMATO SAUCE’’ a game played in a circle as well and you pick the one you love among the circle, this was a kind of tough game to them because scanning the mind of the kids they were thinking if a boy chooses a girl their friend would laugh at them thinking that they are….. You know kids staff but as they were going with the game they were in the lane and they loved playing it with a little bit of a shy face. Then it came the moment where the kids could recall you back when you were good at humanities and languages, but when it came to Mathematics you always land on tough time and on 4^th April 2017 you could put yourself in those cute kids. By the time the Mathematics teacher walks in the class room and say

‘’the English teacher is not coming today so I will double his periods and then will go for a short break and then will come to my period’’, eish!!!! Was the only word you could hear coming from the pupils who were not Math lovers no wonder they were getting shoes sizes (32,) (36)… And telephone operators line codes (01%), (02%), (08%) and (09). When the Mathematics game was introduced to them the kids were like eish!! The kids thought they will be given a Mathematical test or something but it was a game of adding numbers using the body, ‘’how is it possible’’? That was the question they asked one another but after seeing the demo the kids were surprised and they loved to learn it and the brighter wises were able to predict the next move, 4+4= 8 writing the 8 using the body it was the funniest part of all. Arithmetic a subject which most people wished it wasn’t in their syllabus you could feel the pain the kids had when they held of Math.

More dance practice with the kids

After having fun with the games the kids were privileged to watch a Zimbabwean dance by Solomonic Peacocks, a dance which is performed during farming season, and the kids loved the dance and they wanted to learn it and an opportunity to learn the dance was given to them. They were split in two groups and they were helped by the Peacocks. To my surprise these kids picked the moves easily and I can call them fast learners.

At the end of all the kids watched an amazing performance from Solomonic, they staged a play in titled ‘’ THE RYTHM’’ a short play written by Bright Makina and Directed by Mc Arthur Matukuta, the play talks of a young girl who was mocked by her friends on her dancing career and physical appearance she was inspired by one of the performance she once watched by Shikala dancing group.

Children enjoying the Performance by Mapeacocks

She was encouraged by her uncle that she can be what she wanted to be and her career was the best selection and after hearing the inspiring words from her uncle she was happy and she had the courage that she can do it after having a role model in the house her uncle who was the best village dancer in the way back, as lucky was on her side she helped the group leader of Shikala who dropped the ATM Card on the road and she was given a business card and she was asked to call the group leader and have more talk of her dancing career, her friends were surprised to see Regina the girl they used to mock wearing the Shikala dancing group costume, they couldn’t believe she had joined the group as things got eviler-worse Shikala dancers were given a scholarship and to tour in Europe and Regina was given a special scholarship to study dancing in The United States of America. Her friends judged the book by its cover.

Last Dance

 the kids were a wonderful audience and they loved the play and it encouraged them that they can be what they want to be in life without any mockery words from anybody. Theatre for children is one of the best and marketable theatre in other countries, Solomonic Peacocks Theatre has started a step forward in promoting Theatre for Children in Malawi, thanks to our partners Jacaranda Cultural Centre for bringing St Patricks’ Academy kids.