The purpose of this thesis is to analyze the development of theatre in Zambia with special emphasis to the period between 1950 and 1975. The methodology is mainly descriptive with material based on the author's personal experience, interviews, observations, correspondence, and on printed material such as journals, newspapers, official reports and books. The first chapter examines the nature of Zambia's traditional performing arts, the changes these arts have under¬gone because of urbanization, and the role of individual performing artists who have created new traditional dances and dance-dramas. The second chapter deals with the establishment of the European theatre movement, little theatres and playhouses in the urban area and the formation of the Northern Rhodesia Drama Association. It also deals with the activities of the first African drama clubs and the multiracial Waddington Players who challenged the all-white Northern Rhodesia Drama Association and the Government's racial segregation laws. The third chapter analyzes Zambia's cultural revolution and the role of the Department of Cultural Services and the National Dance Troupe in the development of Zambian theatre. The fourth chapter examines the development of the University of Zambia's Chikwakwa Theatre and the debate be¬tween its advocates and the expatriate-dominated Theatre Association of Zambia concerning the stJte of theatre in Zambia. This chapter also deals with various projects by Chikwakwa Theatre, such as the travelling theatre movement, children's theatre and drama workshops. The fifth and concluding chapter surveys the efforts of the expatriate Theatre Association of Zambia to inte¬grate Chikwakwa Theatre into the expatriate theatre movement and the role of television drama in the development of theatre in Zambia.
Theatre--Zambia, Performing Arts--Zambia
Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations