‘Torn’ debuts today, putting youth voices centre stage at Intwasa Arts Festival
Chimwemwe Phiri
Torn, a theatrical production exploring the challenges young people face in making their voices heard, makes its Intwasa Arts Festival debut today at 2pm at the Bulawayo Theatre.
The Yellow World production in partnership with Young Artists Development School (YADS) and Theatre Productionfollows students who come together to raise concerns affecting them at school and in their community, using theatre to explore youth participation and communication.
In an interview with Matpulse, Yellow World communications officer Nicole Mavhunga said the production was inspired by the experiences of young people and their struggles to have their voices taken seriously.
“Torn was inspired by the experiences of young people and the challenges they face when trying to make their voices heard,” Mavhunga said.
“The story follows a group of students who come together to speak up about their concerns and make sure they are taken seriously at school and in their community.”
Mavhunga said the production was designed to give young people an opportunity to see their experiences reflected on stage while opening conversations around how communities listen to them.
“We wanted to use theatre to tell a story that young people can relate to. We also wanted to create a space where young people can see their experiences and voices on stage,” she said.
The play promises emotional and tense moments alongside an element of hope as its characters navigate the challenges of finding their voices.
“Audiences can expect a relatable and interesting story about young people finding their voices and standing up for what they believe in,” Mavhunga said.
At the heart of the production is a question aimed at both young people and those responsible for listening to them: “What happens when young people feel like no one is listening to them?”
Mavhunga said the team hopes the play will encourage audiences to consider whether young people are genuinely given opportunities to participate in decisions affecting their lives.
“We hope people will think about how they listen to young people and whether young people are really given the chance to speak and take part in decisions that affect them,” she said.
The production also highlights the role of arts festivals in creating opportunities for emerging creatives. According to Mavhunga, festivals such as Intwasa allow young artists to showcase their work, meet fellow creatives and gain experience.
“For young artists, these opportunities can help build confidence and open doors in the creative industry,” she said.
She added that such platforms were also important for Bulawayo because they create space for local artists and stories.
“They show that our stories matter and that young people have something important to contribute to the arts and society,” Mavhunga said.
For the Yellow World team, the immediate focus is on seeing the months of preparation translated into a live performance and gauging the audience’s response.
“We are most excited to finally see Torn come alive on stage and to see how the audience connects with the story,” Mavhunga said.
The production runs at the Bulawayo Theatre on 25 and 26 September as part of Intwasa.
Mavhunga said the play’s themes extend beyond youth, touching on everyday questions of communication and how people make one another feel heard.
“Torn is a story about young people, but the issues it talks about affect everyone — how we communicate, how we listen and how we make people feel heard,” she said.
