Almasi Arts Actor's Training Intensive

May 10, 2014

Almasi Arts Actor's Training Intensive

Some of the participants with Andre Holland, Patience Tawengwa and Zaza Muchemwa

Almasi, the Zimbabwean – American Dramatic Arts Collaborative Organisation founded by Danai Gurira and Patience Tawengwa, recently held an Actor's training Intensive entitled From William Shakespeare to August Wilson.

The master acting course which ran from 30 April to 11 May 2014 was taught by Andre Holland, an American Television, Stage and Film actor and had the goal of deepening the artist's craft, process and literary understanding through Shakespeare and August Wilson. It is the US - based co-founder and President Danai Gurira who has the link to the American talent that is coming through to train and it is through her relationships that there is access to the American artists and artistic institutions that enable the training of local artists.

This is the the first actors training intensive by Almasi with past projects having focused on playwrights, production, staged readings and directors and has been welcomed by local actors who have described it as 'amazing, incredible, magical and interesting'. The actors are promising young actors whom Zimbabwe has seen on the theater and film scene for quite a while.

But how effective was the training given the time frame they had? After all actors spend years training for them to get Shakespeare right. A lot of man hours and rehearsal time before one can say the actors are well versed in Shakespeare. Andre said it was quite effective and he saw fantastic growth from the very first day.

So why Shakespeare and August Wilson? Shakespeare and August Wilson have not been seen much on the local scene. Minus the few school plays Reps puts up every year, there has been a dearth of Shakespeare in Zimbabwe.

Andre Holland says, ''Shakespeare is the best and for you to become better at your craft you constantly have to measure yourself against the best.' Once an actor had mastered Shakespeare they could tackle any contemporary play and be better at it. This is because Shakespeare requires specificity, vocal,physical and emotional dexterity. And August Wilson like Shakespeare wrote for his people. The epic nature of the stories they both tell ; the deaths, love and sex, show there is nothing casual about them.

Patience Tawengwa expressed the desire to have a dramatic arts academy in Zimbabwe as there are no serious platforms to improve the skills of actors in Zimbabwe. For the artist who wishes to pursue acting and related fields but is unable to get to the University of Zimbabwe or the Midlands State University, there are no avenues to hone the skills they have and there is lack of serious role models. She reiterated the sentiments about needing to improve, of becoming better, 'becoming what you behold'.

There is part two of the program. Another American actor, Nyambi Nyambi of the Mike and Molly fame is coming to Zimbabwe end of June to continue with the master class. The focus is going to be on August Wilson because whilst his craft is honed on the same level as Shakespeare, everyone connects with him. And Andre Holland says the actors have to, 'Take the lessons and make it as real as can be'.

For Andre Holland the experience has been a rewarding one. The actors brought their Zimbabwean selves to Shakespeare. It was amazing to watch how they support each other in a beautiful way. And he will definitely be coming back to Zimbabwe.

Responses of the participants

Charmaine Mujeri, described her experience as an emotional one and likened it to Voltron, 'Knowing the lines is like forming the head,' she said dramatically.

Tafadzwa Bob Mutumbi said it was an honour to have worked with Andre Holland and benefited a lot from the exercise; got tricks on how to deepen character and his approach to Shakespeare and acting has changed because of what has been imparted. He feels that he has become a better actor and will one day even audition for the Royal Shakespeare company.

For Gideon Wabvuta , Shakespeare was some dead old white guy who was difficult to understand in school and by this training workshop Shakespeare, 'was made plain to us'. He described the magical transformation that the first day's sonnet had on him and everyone and he discovered the magical beauty of Shakespeare.

Actors like Caroline Mashingaidze, Sitshengisiwe Siziba and Evangelista Mwatse talked about how their fears about Shakespeare had been alleviated. Their experience with Shakespeare was limited and with the training they got , they now have a clearer idea of how to pronounce and deliver the lines and own the characters.

The actors had a lot to say about the chosen dramatists. Gideon talked about the intelligence of the two dramatists; the orchestration of how they are able to bring characters from all aspects and make them relatable. He talked about how the plays are human stories and universal and a basic model for playwrights.

The Facilitator