Tebere Arts Foundation presented the conversation Directing as Mothering with The Stories Women Carry: Creative Practice of African Women from the Continent livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 9 November 2020 at 9 a.m. PST (San Francisco, UTC -8) / 12 p.m. EST (New York, UTC -5) / 8 p.m. EAT (Nairobi, UTC +3).
The Stories Women Carry, Episode Two: “Directing as Mothering”
A discussion about directing practice and women in leadership roles in Kenya. What does directing theatre productions in Kenya look like and how does it differ from the rest of the world? How do you direct work that is rooted in ancestral and deep mythological traditions? How does being a female director change your role in the room? What is the role of the director in the creative and collaborative process?
Guest: Wanjiku Mwawuganga
Wanjiku is a Kenyan actor, director, writer and producer. She graduated from Kenyatta University with a BA in Theatre Arts and Film Technology. She made her directing debut in 2015 with ‘We Won’t Forget’, a theatrical fusion of dance, drama and poetry that received critical acclaim and has been staged in Kenya, at The Kampala International Theatre Festival in Uganda in 2015, The Jalada Literally Mobile Festival and the Ubumuntu International Festival in Rwanda 2017. She also directed the Too Early For Birds series productions, the most recent production being #TEFBrazen the fourth edition of the popular ‘Too Early for Birds ’ and Sitawa Namwalie’s 'Taking My Father Home'.
“The Stories Women Carry: Creative Practice of African Women from the Continent”
The Stories Women Carry is a Web Series that highlights the work of African women in different fields of theatre on the continent. The 6-episode season features leading writers, poets, directors, producers and interdisciplinary theatre-makers who will share their artistic practices and methodologies. There is an increase in conversations about non-Western methods of theatre-making across the continent and beyond. In the spirit of uncovering an African dramaturgy and its application in various fields of theatre from the creation of new work to arts management, these leading practitioners from Uganda and Kenya will share their insights in each episode.
Each episode will invite one female guest, or a collective to speak on a specific topic, related to their personal practice. American Sign Language and Kenyan Sign Language interpretation will be available for this series.
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