Culture: 'Ibsen comes to Zimbabwe' project

'IBSEN COMES TO ZIMBABWE' PROJECT.

2006 Ibsen Year

The year 2006 was known as the Ibsen year in Norway. The year marked the 100^th anniversary of the death of the famous Norwegian playwright, Henrik Ibsen. The Embassy in Harare participated in the celebrations by organising performances of Ibsen’s plays. With assistance from the Royal Norwegian Embassy CHIPAWO and Zimbabwe joined the world in the in commemorating the Ibsen centenary with a number of events, including a local adaptation of his dramatic poem, ‘Peer Gynt’ a play called a Journey to yourself.

Achievements:

• Performances of some of his plays were held at various locations in Zimbabwe. The main celebrations were held at The National Gallery of Zimbabwe on May 23, 2006. 
• The play was premiered at the annual Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA).
• The play was also shown on Zimbabwe national television.
• Adoption of Henrik Ibsen works into the Zimbabwe Education curriculum. The play a Doll’s house has been accepted into the schools literature syllabus.

2007 Edvaard Grieg centenary

Following the impressive results of the Ibsen celebration in 2006, the Embassy in 2007 marked the Edvaard Grieg Centenary, by sponsoring the performance by two celebrated accordionists at HIFA. One of the pieces they played was the ‘Peer Gynt suite’. CHIPAWO prepared a performance to go hand in hand with the music at the festival.

2009 at  Ibsen Museum

When Ambassador Per G Stavnum returned to Norway he handed over the film on Peer Gynt (A journey to Yourself) to the Ibsen Museum. This summer the Director of Ibsen Museum has called him informing that the film was seen by Ibsen experts and were positive about the play. Therefore they have decided to put it on the programme they have every Sunday for people interested in Ibsen and open to the public.

The film will be shown on Sunday 18 October 2009. Ngobile who played the role of Peter Gwindi is engaged with the Kulturskolen in Fredrikstad for a second year. Mr Stavnum has been invited to make an introduction on the background of the film and Ngobole will also be saying a few words on Chipawo’s experience playing Peer Gynt/Ibsen in Zimbabwe.