Ntangaare, Dr. Mercy Mirembe (Uganda)
Dr. Mercy Mirembe Ntangaare is an Associate Professor of Drama/Theatre, a playwright and folklorist. She teaches Drama, Theatre Marketing and Folklore (Cultural Identity studies) at the Performing Arts and Film Department, Makerere University, Kampala, where she is former Head of Department (2002-2009). She has been Deputy Dean in the Faculty of Arts (2010-2011).
Mercy is co-author of Dustbin Nations (2000) and The Chief of Shumankuzi (2002), two children’s plays that decry war and corruption in post-independent Africa. Her other plays, Lady, Will You Marry Me? (2002); The Rat Trap and Other Plays (2007), which is an anthology of five plays; Rhythms of Life (2009), which is an audio/talking play; and Semitego, The Famous Hunter (2011) discuss socio-economic and political issues.
She has also written scholarly articles on drama/theatre and culture. Her book, A History of Theatre Development in Uganda, expected late this year (2011), is the first ever historical documentation of Uganda’s theatre.
Mercy is a founder and former Chairperson (2000-2002) of Eastern Africa Theatre Institute (EATI), a regional theatre network operating in Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, and Ethiopia since 1999. She is Board Member EATI-Uganda (since 2004), Vice-President IDEA (International Drama/Theatre Education Association) – since 2008, and Chairperson of Board of Trustees of Uganda National Cultural Centre (UNCC) since January 2009. She is director, MEBO Theatre Documentaries Limited which aims to produce rare, unique, high value theatre and entertainment for children, youth and general audiences in Uganda and abroad through the performance of theatre classics, circus theatre, mime, theatresports, Ugandan ethnic art and culture.
A Melvin Jones Fellow (MJF), Mercy is an active member of the Lions Club of Kampala Central in Uganda, District 411B (Uganda and Tanzania).
Her interests include creative writing, theatre, photography, research, book work/design, community outreach, cooking and gardening. Her current research is in e-publishing, particularly audio/talking and e-books.
http://www.mebotheatre.co.ug