Interview with Ugandan playwright Mercy Mirembe Ntangaare

Dr, Mercy Mirembe Ntangaare is a professor, playwright, and folklorist, and a woman who writes powerful plays for both young audiences and adults.  Write Local. Play Global. asked her a few questions about her work:

WLPG: Was there something in particular that motivated you to start writing for young audiences?
MERCY: Yes and no. I write both for young and adult audiences. Childhood creativity and apparent playfulness at life’s realities intrigue me. A world of make-believe and suspended truth. When I write for adults, I like to explore options that are otherwise usually ignored. But, whether I write for young or adult audiences, I like to tell a story of especially ordinary beings, young or old, in the face of a social system or power structure that means to direct their lives.

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New Visions/New Voices 2012: the week in brief

Monday, May 14 – (Rehearsals begin: the projects)

Over a hundred playwrights, composers, directors, dramaturgs, music directors, actors, stage managers working on eight projects in rehearsal rooms all around the Kennedy Center.

For those who don't know, this project supports the development of new plays for young audiences - the plays are in the plans of a particular theater, and they can be submitted for consideration at any stage of their development, from a treatment to a script that's had several readings and is nearly ready for production. 

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New Visions/New Voices 2012 in pictures

Check out the slide show of the projects in process, as well as the slide show of the US and International Playwright slams.

'Overheard at New Visions/New Voices 2012' compiled and edited by Abra Chusid

At New Visions/New Voices, we gather together to hear stories: stories of the characters onstage, brought to life by dedicated creative teams; stories of the playwrights’ discoveries through the week of development.  Coming together as a field, we also have the opportunity to share stories about our work around the world: stories of successes and risks, challenges and strengths. 

Zoom out, and you will see another story developing, in which we all play key roles. It is the story of our continuous and ongoing development of theatre for young audiences:  What does our field look like now?  How will we shape it in the years to come?  What are our hopes and dreams for young audiences worldwide? 

Individually, the quotes below may be provocative, funny, or somewhat strange; together, they tell a story.  A story of now.  A story of us.  A story of this benchmark in TYA

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Slamming at NV/NV!

In and around the eight full productions being workshopped, New Visions/New Voices includes international and US playwrights slams - and another sixteen unique voices can be heard reading five minute excerpts. 

For a slide show with photos of most of the writers, click here. (Thanks to photographer Teresa Fisher)

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