US tutor to train Malawian actors

Malawian theatre will soon graduate from theatre plays adapted from novels and other books to fresh ideas supported by creativity if the actors utilise the experience to be shared by American actor and theatre lecturer James Carey.

Carey, who runs the Attic Theatre, is on an African tour de duty and arrived in Malawi on Sunday. He will stage two performances at Madsoc tomorrow and Thursday evening. Prior to the performances, Carey will hold two workshops with 15 actors.

According to Madsoc creative director Stanley Mambo, Carey, who has released over 300 productions and won 13 Drama-Logue Awards, will train actors to become creative and be able to compose and perform a play with few actors.

“We want Madsoc to be the home of theatre and our focus is to bring both local and international actors. We are happy that in just months, we have brought Carey who will give us a different feel of theatre. We have worked with Germany’s Theater Kostanz and it is time for America to give us its toast through one of the best actors. The workshop will be so beneficial because Carey is a theatre lecture,” said Mambo.

During the two days, Carey will perform a one man play Coming to Zimbabwe which, he says, is about his experience during his visit to Zimbabwe.

“It is personal play and I am telling a story of what I experienced during my first visit to Africa. The setting is Africa,” said Carey, who lectures drama at California Lutheran University and Pepperdine University.

He said he wants to share the skills with Malawian actors and is also looking forward for collaborations and taking some actors to the US for performances.

On how Malawian theatre can grow, the actor said artists should first consider acting as a serious career and coax government and the community to invest in the sector.

Before Malawi, he was in Zimbabwe where he also performed the play twice and held workshops and teaching sessions. He will conclude his trip with a visit to South Africa next week.