The Theatre Production Apprenticeship

The Theatre Directors Apprenticeship and Social Change Play Production is a programme designed to bridge the practicum gap in Ugandan Theatre and indeed Africa. It’s a 2-tier programme that gives a hands-on training to 10 aspiring theatre directors under the auspices of a Silent Voices Uganda’s Annual play Production. The programmes is open to 10 aspiring theatre maker from any country from Africa. The 1960s/early 70s were the glorious days of Ugandan theatre. However, the rise of Idi Amin to the Presidency saw a decline in Uganda theatre due to the political persecution of artists, especially critical theatre makers, which led to deep rooted self-censorship among theatre makers giving birth to a ‘just for laughs’ theatre. This continues to be made worse by the current limited/limiting largely theory-based education that doesn’t equip theatre makers with the necessary practices, crafts and skills and the lack of support systems for theatre. Many Ugandan employers have and continue to complain about the challenges of receiving University graduates equipped with a lot of theories but no practical skills.