In a major moment for Zimbabwean theatre, two time Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Lynn Nottage is currently in Harare leading a two week masterclass designed to sharpen and elevate the voices of the country’s most exciting playwrights.
Hosted by Almasi Collaborative Arts in partnership with the Zimbabwe German Society, the Re Write Masterclass runs from 5 to 19 July 2025 and forms a central pillar of Almasi’s inaugural Africa Voices Now! A Festival of New African Plays.
Nottage, who is regarded as one of the most celebrated playwrights of her generation, is known globally for works such as Sweat, Ruined, Fabulation and Intimate Apparel. In Harare, she is working with six Zimbabwean playwrights to explore the art of rewriting as a powerful creative tool. The focus is not only on improving structure and character, but also on developing work that is ready for international stages.
The selected participants include Amanda Ranganawa and Kingsley Chinhanu from Mutare, Philani Nyoni from Bulawayo, and Batsirai Chigama, Rudo Mutangadura and Tatenda Mutyambizi from Harare. All six are using the masterclass to refine original scripts under Nottage’s expert guidance.
“This is an extraordinary opportunity for Zimbabwean writers to engage meaningfully with one of the most respected theatre voices of our time,” said a spokesperson for Almasi Collaborative Arts. “The knowledge being shared here will shape their writing far beyond this moment.”
The masterclass will conclude with a free public showcase on Saturday 19 July, from 11am to 1pm at the Zimbabwe German Society. Audiences will be treated to scenes from the writers’ works in progress, offering a rare window into both process and promise.
Almasi Collaborative Arts continues to make bold strides in its mission to bring new African narratives to the world stage. By creating a space where local writers can learn from internationally acclaimed practitioners, the organisation is helping usher in a future where Zimbabwean theatre is not only heard, but recognised globally for its craft and power.
