Open call: Zwakala theatre incubator programme in SA

This year the festival marks its 30th anniversary that celebrates successful partnership with community-based theatre practitioners as well as highlighting mentoring process in theatre making and mounting of theatrical work integrated into the mainstream platform through the renowned stages of the Market Theatre Foundation.

The programme’s main aim is to improve the skills of writers, directors and performers. It empowers them to create and produce local content of a high standard and trains the next generation of community arts leaders, arts administrators and managers. It also takes them through a journey of both the creative and practical sides of producing a professional theatre piece.

Group leaders, writers and directors receive specialised training and resources to improve the quality of their work and their leadership, ultimately benefiting the entire group.

The incubation programme is sponsored by the Department of Sports Arts and Culture Incubation Programme. Through this programme the department aims to help emerging practitioners to hone their skills through mentorship and propel them to professional status. The process also puts a strong emphasis on home-grown content to hopefully generate exciting new productions for the theatre-going public.

Eligibility:

• All members of the group must have South African ID.
• Groups are to reside within boundaries of City of Johannesburg.
• Group members need to be between 18 and 35 years old.
• Only full-time theatre practitioners can apply, no students/learners allowed to participate.
• Groups must secure their own rehearsal venue for site visits and fieldwork. No rehearsal venue will be provided by Market Theatre.
• All groups must adhere to the confirmed site visit schedule as no deviations will be allowed. Failure to adhere will result in disqualification.
• Failure to comply will all the requirements, will result in immediate disqualification.
• Rights of admission reserved.

Requirements:

Should applicants meet the above eligibility criteria, the following needs to be submitted for your application to be evaluated:

• A duly completed showcase application form.
• Script.
• Production picture (minimum of two, maximum of five pictures).
• 100-word bios of the writer and the director.
• The total number of group members not to exceed 10.
• Technical rider.

Important dates:

When applying, groups must ensure that they are available for showcasing as well as fieldwork. Site visits and fieldwork will be as per the festival schedule that will be shared with accurate dates per production.

Roll-out of the festival for 2023/2024 is as follows:

• Fieldwork 1 and Selection 2: September and October 2023.
• Selection 1: September 2023
• Fieldwork 2: November 2023.
• Ko Lapeng Showcase: December 2023.
• Fieldwork 3: January 2024.
• Zwakala Festival: February 2024.
• Zwakala Winner: Dates TBC.
• Rehearsals: Two weeks pick-up rehearsals (Dates TBC).
• Season: Two weeks run (Dates TBC).

Applications can be submitted online via the Market Theatre official website before 31 August. 

All enquiries should be sent to festival coordinator via e-mail at proposals@markettheatre.co.za.

View the original call here.