Third Space International
A storytelling and acting project
Third Space International is an exciting acting and storytelling project in collaboration with students from Zanzibar, Tanzania. In April 2025, director Margot Zwiers and performer Marieke van der Steen had the opportunity to visit Zanzibar and collaborate with students from the Zanzibar Learning 4 Life Foundation and Kawa Training Centre.
Documenting personal and imaginary stories
Through a mix of storytelling and acting workshops, students shared personal and imaginary stories that will be crafted into a film. The stories and recorded narratives centered around themes like ‘feeling at home’, ‘the environment’ and ‘imaginary places’. One of the highlights was a tour through ancient Stone Town guided by students of Kawa Training Centre, who are training to become tour guides. They brought the city to life with imaginative tales of hidden, fictional places in the real streets of Zanzibar. Stay tuned for the results!
Students are writing their personal and imaginary stories.
Marieke van der Steen is recording the stories.
Students have taken photos of places that feel like home and write their own stories about this place.
Looking ahead
We want to explore opportunities for developing this into a long-term initiative. Our goal is to foster meaningful, lasting exchanges between Zanzibar and the Netherlands, building bridges through the power of storytelling and performance.
Credits
Concept: Margot Zwiers
Workshop leaders: Margot Zwiers & Marieke van der Steen
Photography: Carla Kogelman
This project is in cooperation with Happy Scholar, Zanzibar Learning 4 Life Foundation and Kawa Training Centre.
Special thanks to: Irene Witteman, Gasica, Suzanne Degeling, Nyange, Carla Kogelman and Pepa Canel.
