21 May 2007, by Chamilesu Kapaipi. Lusaka – ASSITEJ Zambia is playing host to four of the 14 Southern Africa Development Countries (SADC) as they participate in the HIV/Aids workshop under the theme of “setting standards for our children’s theatre.”

The workshop, which is being held at Cresta Golf View Hotel, preceded an opening ceremony at the hotel.

This workshop brings to the fore role of puppet theatre in social change as well as the knowledge on how puppeteers can best utilise their skill to tackle the aspect of HIV/Aids within their communities,” Workshop Facilitator Asher Phiri said.

He further said that the training is taking on a holistic approach and emphasizing on practicality as puppetry without practice becomes disintegrated. This approach has highlighted a lot of puppetry theatre techniques and our workshop leader Barbro Lord brings in the perspective of puppetry as work which is rather encouraging.

People train for many tears to be a puppeteer and sometimes it is seen as heavy and boring, but practice is the essence of becoming a good puppeteer.
Puppeteer’s participation was guaranteed through an ASSITEJ representation and appointment in the country of origin and an acting background.

Zambia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, South Africa and Zambia are represented during the workshop, with two participants from each country.

Speaking during the workshop, Puppeteer trainer and actor, Lord stated that puppetry is an art form that artistes can use to tell stories that one cannot tell on stage with human beings as kids can relate with the puppet as it is a kind of magic that kids enjoy and remember.

“Puppets give away basic ideas which kids can share and listen to as such evoking emotion since puppets use more movement than text” she said.
Lord also stated that the workshop is a starting point through which the groups can fine tune the skills they already acquired and combine it with can be learnt during the course of the workshop; as we are hopeful that they will utilise skills that they will have learnt and pass it back onto the community which they represent.

She added “It is through this workshop that they can also learn how to relate with children using this powerful tool that can easily get through to children especially concerning the advent of HIV/Aids”.

“Going by the theme for ASSITEJ International “save this generation”; this particular workshop is a crossroad between art and education’” Bernt Hoglund workshop facilitator said. “It’s great to give people information with story telling and by ordinary actors.”

“Telling a story through puppetry especially for kids is always made simple and combined at an artistic level as smaller kids easily react to puppets since they are considered to be funny while actors can sometimes be looked on as horrifying to look at” Hoglund said.

It is expected that participants will utilise the training they are receiving and take it back to their communities as they are will learn how to bring information together on the perspective of sharing this information with children.

“This workshop is positive, relevant and the opportunity to learn under our workshop leader is useful for information dissemination as the workshop has taken up a different dimension” said Heavy Gurure of ASSITEJ Zimbabwe.

“So far, we have learnt the different types of puppets, hands use and scripting for puppet theatre as it is different for puppetry theatre compared to actors for theatre since in puppetry we use as little words as possible” said Gurure. “I am definitely comfortable that I will be able to teach in the pre and primary schools lined up for shows when we get back to Zimbabwe.”

Another participant, Kea Oboke Oora Malomo stated that puppetry is an art form that originates in Africa as such their group in South Africa which he strongly affirmed is Azania and not South Africa would do stories for the country and for themselves.

However, fellow participant Chantal Synman said that value placed on puppetry in the west is distinguished as marinates have value and can command a figure as high as $4500 while we are still struggling to gain some recognition. Though this workshop is useful and will help us in bestowing our profession with strength and as a serious profession.

Construction of glove/hand puppets and mouth puppets, improvisation and conflict, different kinds of techniques for hand puppeteers, construction of puppet stages and use of props, music and singing, how to tell a story with puppet theatre, dramatization of puppets and differences between theatre with actors and puppet theatres and the use of a mix are topics that are being discussed at the hand puppet workshop which comes to an end this Wednesday, May 23.

Coinciding with workshop is the ASSITEJ International Executive Committee meeting held annually. The meeting has brought together the executive some of the 70 member countries world wide.

And in line with the hosting of the workshop by ASSITEJ Zambia chapter, an International seminar on the “role of theatre in social change” was also held at Dream Valley.

The countries which participated in the seminar include Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Sweden, USA, UK, Croatia, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Rwanda, Argentina, Austria, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Israel, Switzerland, Turkey and Zambia.

Papers such as “Theatre for Development: Its genesis, spread and application in East and Southern Africa by Professor Dickson Mwansa (Zambian Open University – Vice Chancellor), “Theatre and context: Some current social changes” by Professor Andries Walter Oliphant (University of South Africa,UNISA, Tswane, South Africa), “Building networks within children’s theatre in Africa” by Niclas Malcmcrona (ASSITEJ International, Sweden – Secretary General), “To be or not to be” by Professor Wolfgang Schneider ( ASSITEJ International, Germany – President), “When the stone strikes the water, the social ripples of theatre” by Cheela Chilala (ASSITEJ Zambia – President) and “real life, real theatre: theatre and the Rwandan genocide” by Hope Azeda (ASSITEJ Rwanda – President) were presented during the course of the International seminar.

The International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People is the largest international association devoted to the promotion and development of professional live arts for young audiences. It was established in 1965 with the involvement of 12 countries and currently has National Centre’s in more than 70 countries world-wide.

ASSITEJ International's mission is to foster the development of professional theatre for young audience’s throughout the world by providing opportunities for individuals, professional theatres and theatre organizations to meet, collaborate and exchange ideas.