Shakespeare Schools FestivalMALAWI
The Seventh Festival - 2026
27th June 2026
Madsoc Theatre (Lilongwe)
After a hiatus of three years we re-established the Shakespeare Schools Festival (Malawi) in Lilongwe, with the kind support of the Shakespeare Schools Festival (South Africa) and Madsoc Theatre / Mwezi Arts (Lilongwe).
This is a small but exciting start to the second instantiation of the Festival. We hope to attract new Friends to allow the Festival to recover its old strength (and more) in years to come.
Our New Home
Madsoc Theatre (Music and Drama Society) is a remarkable outpost of theatrical creativity in Area 2 of Malawi's capital city. It houses two theatres: a studio theatre and (a new project) an open air theatre. It has also a handsome garden. Its annual Theatre Renaissance Cabaret attracts artists from across Malawi and from 'Beyond the Lake'.
Click here (YouTube) to watch the Closing Ceremony of TRC 2026. Click here (YouTube) for the Open Call to TRC 2027.
Many thanks to Hazel Musochera and Stanley Mambo both for their encouragement and for making Madsoc Theatre the attractive new home of the Shakespeare Schools Festival (Malawi).
For Visitors:
Click here for a map.
Cross the Lilongwe bridge from Area 3 to Area 2. Turn left at the second robots. (KAK Arcade and Bread Talk stand on the corner.) Pass through the market area and climb the hill. Turn left at the first turn on to a dirt road. (If you reach the mosque, you have gone too far.) The road descends. At the first bend to the left, turn right into the car park of Madsoc Theatre. There is a sign.
Click here to download a copy of the Festival poster (.pdf).
The Programme
Mr Neverson Chikusa leads the National Anthem.
Miss Tania Banda signs 'I Like My School'.
Our short programme included contributions from four secondary schools, both Government and Private, one primary school and, for the first time, one university. Four of these institutions are new to the Festival. Local primary schools were invited to watch. Participants numbered some one hundred and thirty. Together with the audience, it was a full house.
Special needs education was represented by Mua School for the Deaf.
It was a great pleasure to welcome Domasi Institute of Management and Technology. Back in 2008 Domasi Mission Secondary School travelled to Kamuzu Academy to participate in Shakespeare 24 (the ancestor of the Shakespeare Schools Festival). These two schools alone represented the continent of Africa in a project to perform Shakespeare plays in each time zone of the world over a space of twenty-four hours.
We note the presence of two Lilongwe schools (both newcomers). It is hoped that many more will be involved in future.
Master of Ceremonies was Mr Neverson Chikusa, alumnus of the Festival.
We were honoured, also for the first time, by the presence of special guests: Mr Ben. Nicholson (British High Commission) and Ms Melody Sango (British Council).
Domasi Institute of Management and Technology
Zomba District
Hamlet
Mua School for the Deaf
Dedza District
The Katapila of Mtakataka (Signed)
See below for Recording and Picture Board.
Kamuzu Academy
Kasungu District
Hamlet (Speeches)
Mziza Mission Secondary School
Kasungu District
Macbeth
Kang’oma Secondary School
Lilongwe (Area 23)
Romeo & Juliet
St Stephano Private Secondary School
Lilongwe (Area 50)
Julius Caesar
The Record
I. A Summary of Proceedings. (08:05)
II. Mua School for the Deaf rehearses 'The Katapila of Mtakataka'. (28:50)
This is an adaptation of 'The Merchant of Venice'. The Picture Board, by Miss Alisoun Probert MBE, is available here (.pdf).
III. A Summary of Mua School for the Deaf's rehearsal and performance of 'The Katapila of Mtakataka'. (03:48)
Shakespeare in Malawi I
It is appropiate to acknowledge here the recent publication (2025) of Amy Bonsall's study of 'Shakespeare in Malawi'.
There is reference both to the Shakespeare Schools Festival (Malawi) and to Madsoc Theatre.
Shakespeare in Malawi II
Lloyd William Parker left Kamuzu Academy in 2025. It was his arrival from South Africa, to teach the Classics, in 2017 that allowed the introduction of the Shakespeare Schools Festival to Malawi. His theatrical productions (Greek and English) are memorable.
We recall especially his part in taking a Malawi play to Cape Town in 2020.
Here is a small tribute (08:05) to Lloyd William Parker’s contribution to the Festival. Ad multos annos!
Shakespeare and the Bwampini Project
A happy consequence of the Festival is that the group from Domasi Institute of Management and Technology evolved into Mizu Arts Theatre (Lilongwe).
Mizu Arts Theatre has proved invaluable in a project to record A. E. Dziko’s ‘Bwampini’ in Chinyanja / Chichewa and to bring Malawi’s ‘Homer’ to the stage.
There is further information here.
Report & Vision 2027 / 2032
The Report will be available here in due course.
Our intention in 2023, after the disruption of Covid, was to re-establish the Festival as a face-to-face event. In this we succeeded. Our intention in 2026 was to demonstrate the same, but more so, among friends, who value the Festival. In this we have also succeeded. The Festival has a new home. We can only admire the good will and enthusiasm that we have encountered.
Our work now is to make the Festival sustainable. To that end we invite contribution to our Vision 2027 / 2032. This is an evolving document, which will be revised from time to time.
Acknowledgements
Zikomo kwambiri and Many thanks to Neverson Chikusa (Master of Ceremonies) and to all who assisted in preparation: especially Annie Chidali, Cathy Chidali, Joseph Goliat and Blessings Maghan.
As ever, the Festival would not exist without the commitment of Institutions: not only the young people concerned but also their teachers and their parents. Gratias.
The Malawi Broadcasting Corporation filmed proceedings and kindly let us use its footage for our own Record.
We acknowledge Hazel Musochera and Stanley Mambo, our gracious hosts, and all those who those made us welcome at Madsoc Theatre.
It is our special pleasure, once again, to acknowledge the support of Kseniya Filinova, Blythe Linger and all our friends at the Shakespeare Schools Festival (South Africa). Успехов! Voorspoed! Success!