Theatre has always been, and still is, a space where body and soul meet in a single moment of pure exchange. The magic of watching a live play, of feeling the warmth of the interaction between actor and spectator, is something that no technology can truly replicate.
However, this enchantment is under threat. During a colloquium promoted by the Mozambican Theatre Association (AMOTE) and the School of Communication and Arts of Eduardo Mondlane University (ECA-UEM), theatre professionals discussed a phenomenon that is gradually taking away the essence of this very special human encounter: the digital age.
Commemorating World Theatre Day, celebrated on 27 March, the event was a profound reflection on the challenges and risks that theatre faces today, in an era in which social media dominates the way we communicate and consume art.
The colloquium, entitled "For a more inclusive theatre and the challenge of the digital age", was attended by big names in the theatre scene, such as professors Marcial Macome, Sabina Tembe and Victor Gonçalves, all passionately defending the idea that theatre needs to keep its soul alive, with direct and genuine contact with the public.
Actor and director Venâncio Calisto, who moderated the debate, began by reading the international message for World Theatre Day, written by Theodoros Terzopoulos, a renowned Greek name in drama. However, the focus soon turned to the current issues that plague theatre, with the growing dependence on digital platforms.
Victor Gonçalves, with his experience and keen vision, warned of the danger of losing true dialogue between artist and audience. For him, feedback from social networks, although valuable, is no substitute for the emotional and immediate exchange that takes place in a theatre.
Sabina Tembe, with her perspective as an actress, spoke about what really motivates her: the presence of the audience. She cannot imagine the art of performing without actually feeling the energy of the people watching her.
“There is nothing like that moment when the show becomes a unique and instantaneous exchange”, she declared. Social networks, she argues, can offer a space to promote, but they cannot be a substitute for the warmth of the presence of others, of the audience that vibrates together.
Marcial Macome, very reflective, also highlighted the use of social networks as a tool to promote and publicize artistic work, but with one caveat: “Theatre needs presence, experience, being in the space”.
(By Lucas Muaga)
