Theatre project a gear up

AWA PEERS, a theatre programme that seeks to disseminate information on various critical topics at the workplace, goes a gear up with its second edition this year as it incorporates more companies and participants for the upcoming edition.

This year's edition is billed for March 27 (World Theatre Day) at the Zimbabwe Hall.

AWA PEERS (short for Aids and Wellness at the Workplace Awareness Peer Educators as Entertainers Refresher Splash) is theatre or drama competition for workplace peer educators that aims at enhancing the interaction of companies with the community in the fight against HIV/AIDS and other ailments .

"We have moved a step further from performing for the companies to training their peer educators to be able to frequently use theatre to educate one another at the workplace on HIV/AIDS and wellness realising that our clients might not always have funds to hire us to perform for them as professionals," noted the organisers in a statement.

"This is our way of giving back to our clients so that we ensure continuity and sustainability in the fight against HIV/AIDS and other ailments at the workplace because apart from the message . . .we give them as outsiders, there is also power in peers exchanging messages to one another at the workplace using theatre".

They noted that this year three representatives of each company attended a training workshop on basic play-making skills by experts in a two day course.

Equipped with skills to run or enhance a peer drama club at the workplace and lead their colleagues in a creative process, the peer educators will go back to their respective workplaces to work with groups of not more than 10 people to prepare for the competitions which will happen on March 27 at Zimbabwe Hall in Highfield.

"During this preparation process, they will be mentored by theatre artists who will do visits to the workplaces for one-on-one guidance during their play development processes in preparation for the actual competitions which will award the first, second and third Outstanding Group as well as Best Actor and Best Actress.

"We have also approached potential partners for sponsorship of the actual competitions and we are expecting something from some organisations who have been inspired by our innovation last year even without external financial support so I can safely say we are good to go and AWA PEERS 2015 will be bigger and better this year", said Tafadzwa Muzondo, the producer of EDZAI ISU Theatre Arts Project who are organising the event in collaboration with Vuka Afrika Performing Arts.