Malawi needs a national theatre

A retired professor of theatre at Mzuzu University (Mzuni) Muzipasi Mupa Shumba argues that the government needs to erect a national theatre for rehearsals and performances if drama in the country is to thrive and reach international standards. JOHN CHIRWA interviewed him.

Q

. First of all introduce yourself as regards to theatre

A

. My journey in theatre started as a student at Makerere University in Kenya between 1962 and 1966. I was studying for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in English, Geography and History. By then, the university had Makerere Travelling Theatre, and I was a member of the group.

One trip took us to Northern Uganda and Western Kenya where I discovered my potential in theatre due to a character I assumed as a cruel husband. The performance was so powerful such that after the play girls mobbed me for a job well done. I acted as if it was a real life situation.

Q

. What lessons did you draw from Makerere in terms of theatre?

A

. I learnt that a travelling theatre is a vehicle for taking drama into the community. Most people don’t know what is happening in universities. So, when you go into a community with plays, you take the university to the locals. For example, people will talk about Mzuni because of its exploits in football, theatre and film. In that way, the university is going out to the people.

Q

. Have you made use of such a philosophy yourself as an academic?

A

. I would say yes, more especially at Chancellor College [Chanco] of the University of Malawi. I joined the university on April 1 in 1966 as an administrative officer when the campus was at Chichiri in Blantyre. My heart, however, was with academic work. I was interested in theatre. We had Kwacha Cultural Centre where we produced a few plays.

So, when the idea for a travelling theatre came into being at Chanco I was partly involved in its formulation and helped my colleagues to implement it successfully.

Q

. You have talked about a travelling theatre at Chanco, how was theatre developed at the college?

A

. In 1969 I moved from administration to academic work. By that time, the campus moved to Zomba and I was placed at the English Department.

Drama activities were part of the department, which meant we didn’t have many courses in drama.

Upon realising that we had few drama classes, we had to do most activities outside teaching hours. So, with those conditions, we had to work extremely hard such that rehearsals could even go into mid-night.

Chanco became a centre for drama, particularly when James Gibbs joined the department and promoted drama alongside me. Together, we built the Chirunga Open Air Theatre. The open theatre did a lot of work and promoted drama at the college. It was at this theatre that the first production of Mbona, a play written by the late Professor Steve Chimombo was performed. And I took part in that production. I remember the late Dr Peter Chiona taking part in the performance.

I left Chanco in 1971 for the University of Edmouton in Canada where I returned in 1973 after studying for the Master of Arts in Dramatic Literature. Between 1981 and 1983 I was at Leeds University for a Master of Philosophy where I concentrated on research.

On my return from Leeds, I was appointed head of the new Fine and Performing Arts Department. It consisted of drama, music and fine arts. For the first time, we had an opportunity to give a wide range of courses in drama.

By then, the Great Hall had been constructed and attached to it was the Little Theatre. This gave us more space to do our activities.

We set up a cultural week for drama, music and dance performances which was very successful in 1983 and 1984.

Q

. What was the impact of such activities outside the college?

A

. During the cultural week, dances, music and drama were performed by artists from within and outside university. The Great Hall was the mecca for artists, well known artists like the late guitarist Dr. Daniel Kachamba were exposed to large audiences, perhaps for the first time.

In addition, Chancellor College was training teachers and some of them were posted to secondary schools where they continued activities in drama after graduating. Some of them participated in the annual drama festival which was sponsored by by Association for the Teaching of English in Malawi (Atem).

In the country as a whole, drama was promoted by a number of independent theatre groups, including the one promoted by the late Du Chisiza Jnr who was known through an Atem event. I vividly remember that day when I was the chief judge at Chichiri Secondary School. Du produced the famous play The Deceased’s Attack. The play got Du known as a playwright. Thereafter, he went on to produce several plays.

So, the influence of Chanco went into secondary schools, the community and the nation as a whole. That pattern has been maintained to the present day.

Q

. How do you rate theatre in Malawi as at present?

A

. We have not reached international standards for professional theatre. We need to get there. However, to get there we will need the support of government. Government can support this by building us a national theatre with all facilities needed for rehearsals and performances.

Our hope was that when the French Embassy left, the French Cultural Centre would be handed over to a professional group of actors to manage it, but not to government. The moment it is left to be run by government, we are killing it.

Again, Blantyre is far away from other cities like Lilongwe and Mzuzu.

Government needs to consider building such centres in Lilongwe and Mzuzu. If that were done then drama would thrive.