By 3-Mob.com
Copyright 3-mob
Almasi Arts, the organisation co-founded by award-winning Zimbabwean-American actor and playwright Danai Gurira, has announced the launch of Africa Voices Now (AVN) Festival.
The groundbreaking event, described as the first of its kind on the continent, will take place from 18 October to 8 November 2025 at the Jasen Mphepo Little Theatre in Harare.
The festival is the culmination of a year of artistic training, writing retreats, and workshops facilitated by Almasi. Designed as a platform for bold, original African plays, AVN will showcase works in development, including:
Can We Talk by Batsirai ChigamaThe Return by Rudo MutangaduraThese Humans Are Sick by Tatenda Mutyambizi
In addition to theatre productions, the festival will celebrate African creativity across multiple artistic disciplines, reinforcing Almasi’s mission to support and elevate local voices on a global stage.
As part of the build-up to AVN, Almasi is hosting an Acting Showcase on Saturday, 20 September 2025 at the Zimbabwe German Society, led by acclaimed American actor and renowned acting teacher Peter Francis James.
James, whose distinguished career spans stage, film, television, and voice work, has received honours including two Obie Awards, the Drama Desk Award, and the Lucille Lortel Award. His masterclass in Zimbabwe is being hailed as a rare and invaluable opportunity for the country’s community of performing artists.
The showcase follows other high-profile training initiatives hosted by Almasi, such as the Rewrite Workshop with Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage and a Directing Intensive with Tony Award winner Emily Mann.
Together, these programmes highlight the organisation’s commitment to fostering Zimbabwean and African talent while preparing the ground for the AVN Festival’s highly anticipated debut.
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