This Project was supported by the Prince Claus Fund.
During the past decade a new generation of contemporary drama writers has emerged who’s work animates the theatrical scenes of today. Unfortunately professional women drama writers are, as well as in other theatre professions, nearly absent. This is mostly the case during the large artistic professional events in Africa. The percentage of female writers, directors, or stage directors is almost non existent. In order to change this, Sokan Théâtre, in collaboration with Bureau des Arts et Communication (BAC) has taken the initiative to create le Chantier panafricain d'ecriture dramatique des femmes (CPEDF) in order to provide a platform for exchange, training and expression of professional women in theatre.
The third edition is now being launched after the first and second successful editions of CPEDF that took place in 2004 and 2005. The Prince Claus Fund has supported these activities with limited amounts. This time, it includes a wider circle receiving another nine female writers, nine female stage directors, nine actresses, four scene directors and four light directors who receive training that will enable them to strengthen their capacity and to contribute to their work as drama writers.
During the workshops activities include: the staging of « Nuit Blanche » by Angeline S. Bonono from Cameroon, one of nine new plays that were written during the second edition of CPEDF in 2005, and that was chosen unanimously by experts and practitioners to be created during the 2007 edition. The workshops will address issues such as the dissemination of the production. Other activities include the realization of a documentary that will register the workshops, following the creative process of all women involved. This will stimulate work on audio visual work among women, and its potentially creative relation with theater. It is within this context that the CPEDF will invite, by way of experiment, 8 actrices to participate also in the workshop for scenario writing.
By doing so CPEDF will: Offer a platform of exchange, expression and dramatic creation; create the opportunity for a new generation of female theatre professionals to emerge; motivate women to be involved in various aspects of theater production (acting, staging, directing, lighting and writing); promote new communication technologies, and entice exchanges between writers, stage directors and other experts in the field.
Involved trainers
For the writers
- Kangni Alem - Jacques Jouet
For the stage directors
- Fabrice Gorgirat - Serena Sartori
For the actors
- Etienne Minoungou - Valerie Goma
For the scene directors
- Papa Kouyate
For the theatre directors
- Zié Coulibaly
logo of CPEDF
Sokan-Théâtre of the Ivory Coast is a theatre company directed by actor and director OUEDRAOGO Ablas. The goal was to create a theatre company to make the voice of the region, and the voice of Africa heard (that is the meaning of the word SOKAN), to promote culture in general and the art of theatre in particular.
13 BP 1456 Abidjan 13
Tel : +22507672350
Fax :+22524485877
dramacriture@yahoo.fr
