BY MESERET BEHAILU
Sources show that different dancing styles, music and the like akin to theatrical art were there in different parts of the Ethiopia during the ancient times.
But the shows were not similar to modern moods of theater. In this aspect, it is believed that modern theater was introduced to the country upon the return of Teklehawariat Teklemaryam from abroad after learning theatrical art in the 20th century. Latterly, the nation has been practising modern theatre even if the sector has been challenged by many factors.
Befekadu Kefelgne Communication Affairs Director at National Theater told The Ethiopian Herald that theatre was started in Ethiopia 100 years back. The sector has passed through different challenges, and somehow it is developing in this actual period.
Among the many challenges in the sector are found lack of adequate academic institutions, job opportunities for those who graduated in theatrical art, bureaucratic procedures, and skilled human power. In this respect, Addis Ababa University and Ethiopian National Theater respectively are jointly preparing to celebrate their 100th and 65th years of establishment in the mid of this December. The main objective of the festival is to alert the value of theatrical art to the society and discuss how to develop the sector.
During the opening of National Theater, David and Orion Theater was the first theater that came to the stage and played 65 years ago. Following this, many theaters have been staged with the rising of different societal issues whether political, economic or psychological aspect.
According to Befekadu, before the outbreak of COVID-19 the playhouse used to stage eight theaters in a week of which the five play on weekdays while the remain four performances staged on Saturday and Sunday. In this regard, particularly on Monday the National Theatre gives a chance to private enterprises, film makers and the like in order to show their ability and sector’s inspiration.
On the other hand, National Theater gives practice-based training to volunteer trainees during Ethiopian summer season. It registers them without any fees. The National Theater gives the training both in Addis Ababa city and in the states deploying experts to save the training interest. It has also well-organized departments namely, Research and Training Director, which the main activity is identifying the root culture, values, and identities of the given society and conducting
research therewith providing capacity building training in order to develop the art through identifying challenges and opportunities.
However, COVID-19 is a serious challenge on the theater sector during the past eight months and many people, especially art lovers are subject to depression. In the economic aspect, the national theater has lost 384,000 Birr in a day. That is a person is required to pay 40 Birr to watch the show, while the playhouse is capable to hold 1,200 audiences at a time.
Therefore, not only artistes, actors and the theater house but also the government is affected by economic loss due to the continuing challenge of corona virus. Particularly, temporarily, artistes are seriously affected by economic loss due to lack of alternative incomes than obtaining incentive from theater.
Adam Seged Theater is a theater which was absent from the stage because of corona virus pandemic even after the preparation has been finalized. As a result, Ministry of Culture and Tourism has donated for some temporary artistes 10,000 Birr each in order to protect interests.
Befekadu further added that artistes had crisscrossed many regional parts of the nation holding high the slogan of “Art for Peace’’ that the main objective was showing the role of art for peace before the outbreak of corona -virus.
It has also traveled abroad in order to showcase the country’s posture in the sector. For example, ‘’Bado Egir’’, means barefoot. It was provided in Greece and showed to 5,000 audiences and Ethiopian music shown in India, China and many African countries.
Meanwhile, the National Theater is on the way of building modern theater house, outlaying 1.5 billion Birr. The house will be technology-based, significant for job opportunities and audiences’ satisfaction.
Currently, national theater has 310 employees but the structure requests 500 employees in all positions. Out of the total number of employees that where listed, theater experts do not exceed from 50. This shows that lack of skilled human power in the sector is still a serious challenge. Now, seven universities give theatrical art education at B.A level. This move has been playing a decisive role in narrowing a gap of adequate skilled human power in the sector.
As to Fekadu, after the outbreak of corona virus, COVID-19 in the mid December National Theater has finalized its preparation to get back to the stage while observing the careful procedure set by Ministry of Health. In the ensued month, two theaters made by the two heroics namely Loret Tsegay Gebrmedhin’s and Abiye Mengestu Lemma’s work will be staged. Likewise, Nursis non vindia and Meray Sitite music will be staged on the day.
The Ethiopian herald December 16/2020
