CHILDREN CHAMPION GIRL CHILD EDUCATION

Learners from Chichiri primary school stage a play that relate issue of girl child education. the play was developed by young actors from Solomonic peacocks theatre. The production was staged in an open theatre space during school closing day on 29th March 2018 at Chichiri Primary School.

MAPEACOCKS CAUGHT DURING WORLD THEATRE DAY

Mapeacocks working with students

Mapeacocks back on set with aware and fair project which is collaborative with secondary schools, 2018 approaches with silent mode but on the ground were so underlined with a lot of work to do. As the world theatre day for children and young, Mapeacocks were in several activities related to theatre for young audience TYA. On 20^th March across the celebrate theatre practitioners recognize this day for children and young people going down to this year’s theme “Take a child to theatre” the celebration run for a week.

Lydia Banda Directing pupils from Chichiri Primary

Solomonic decided to use this day to prepare different activities for children and young people, on 29^th March two day after world theatre day, this Malawian prominent theatre will be stage a production with children from Chichiri primary school. They play is being directed by young people from Solomonic peacocks theatre which talk more of protecting the girl child. These youngsters from Solomonic they are still working to improve the standards of theatre for children. From working primary students of Chichiri primary school they venture into another production under Aware and Fair project

on youth acts for youth 2018 International formerly known as Fair culture festival to place in Hannover, Germany.

It is the second time for Mapeacocks to be involved in this project, in 2013 they travelled with Chichiri secondary school to Hannover, Germany where they stage the play in titled “The lost key” late in 2015 they travelled with same school to Young Malta festival in Poland. Mapeacocks realize the goodness with children as a great tool of keeping next generation theatre alive. McArthur Matukuta has been working these youngster immediately after they graduate from high school through Solomonic theatre class where they conduct several project like theatre for education and mindset project.

Fumban Phiri helping the students in sketching the play

“We need to do a lot for children living in far-flung rural villages, for children living in inner-city poverty, to experience theatre so that they can get exposed, there have to be other options. And this kind of transformation can make a profound difference to their experience of the world” Fumban Phiri explained.

Aware & Fair Project skeching

As little has been done by our government to improving theatre for children and young people where theatre is always about transformation. Its capacity to transform a space of ordinariness and even crisis, into a place where the imagination is activated and unexpected possibilities unfold, is unique. It offers a moment in which children can experience powerful social change in action. Here they can see that change is possible. That magic can come from the mundane. That joy can be found even in the most deprived of spaces. The quality of a theatre experience that achieves this miracle is not less than one which allows us to take flight in a specially designed cocoon, with technology and design fully at our disposal quoted from Yvette Hardie president for ASSITEJ International.

The Aware and Fare project is being executed with students from four secondary schools in Blantyre; Jacaranda School of Orphans, Chichiri Secondary school, M’jamba school and Stella Maris girls secondary. This collaboration shall bring unique presentation based on theme 40 ways to make the world more attractive. The cast of student depart for Germany on 15^th June 2018.

We quotes this from Mohamad Al Jounde from Syria “Theater is still one of the best ways to express yourself and a mirror to show people what’s good and wrong in our world. The stage is a space where you can create your own world, where you can feel your dreams coming to life. The kids I used to work with were able to show us their past, and the future they wanted, by the play they wrote and acted. They were able to influence people’s emotions and give them the chance to live what was real for those kids, because they never acted, but they were showing their feelings and their reality in a touch of art”

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

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