Navigating between Protest Theatre and Journalism in Post-2000 Zimbabwe: A Study of All Systems Out of Order

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis study assesses how the existence of repressive media laws in Zimbabwe led to the rise of journalistic production of theatre performances. The censorship of media by the state resulted in the use of creative arts as subversive spaces to convey intractable messages for majority consumption—a role similar to that of citizen journalism. Similarly, responding to the suppressive hand of the state on media, online spaces have rampantly enabled the (re) distribution of information to the citizenry. We posit that the spaces created by online platforms are similar to those created by protest theatre in the extension of the role of journalism. While there are considerable difficulties in defining journalism since it has been defined from a varied perspective, ranging from the traditional through to the derivative meanings from context and method of use, this study employs the progressive definition of journalism being inclusive of art forms. To understand protest theatre as journalism in Zimbabwe, we deploy Schechner's performance theory in analysing All Systems Out of Order.