Zabalaza Theatre Festival
 

In 2011 the Baxter Theatre Centre launched its Zabalaza Theatre Festival (formerly known as Ikhwezi) with a new name, managing team, vision, format and programme.

The new team heading up the festival are Thami Mbongo (Artistic Director), Zoleka Helesi (Co-ordinator) and Bongile Mantsai (PRO). All three actors were cast members of Lara Foot's critically acclaimed successes Karoo Moose and Woyzeck. The dynamic trio were involved with the Ikhwezi Festival for several years and intend to ensure that this premier development platform – arguably one of the top of its kind in South Africa – forms a fundamental part of the Baxter's broader vision of becoming a vibrant and integrated cultural hub, reflecting the diversity of the country's demographics for all its patrons, communities, artists and visitors.

The new name, Zabalaza Intsika eBaxter Theatre: zabalaza means 'to strive', and intsika eBaxter Theatre means 'pillar of the Baxter Theatre'. Loosely translated, it means two things: striving towards being a pillar of the Baxter Theatre Centre and, as a pillar of the Baxter Theatre Centre, striving towards success.

Applications are now being invited for the 2012 Zabalaza Festival. Read more and download an application from here.

Zabalaza's aims and objectives

Zabalaza programmes

Go to the Zabalaza Facebook page.

The Ikhwezi/Zabalaza Festivals in 2009, 2010 and 2011 are supported by Africalia's development programme for South Africa, which seeks to contribute to the development of the South African culture in general and to an evolving and growing arts and culture sector, in socio-economic terms, as a source of income and employment. In doing so, the programme will also contribute to social cohesion, integration and inclusion of previously disadvantaged communities and to the transformation of South African society. The specific objective with regard to the Ikhwezi Festival is to assist young people and groups from previously disadvantaged communities to successfully and sustainably make their way in the arts and culture sector. Other organisations forming part of Africalia's programme are the Cultural Development Trust, the Visual Arts Network South Africa (VANSA), the Performing Arts Network South Africa (PANSA), from the hip: khulumakahle (FTH:K), the Dance Forum and the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra Company.

With the support of Africalia     Africalia logo            Golden Arrow logo           NLDTF logo           Distell logo           DCAS logo

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