HARARE is obviously a city hungry for culture. In the week before the start of the annual Harare International Festival of the Arts, the impending shows were all anyone could talk about.The opening ceremony, at the Main Stage in Harare Gardens, drew a crowd of several thousand. Indeed, a HIFA official remarked that the massive attendance had not been expected, and the ceremony drew one of the largest audiences ever. The ensemble performance included spoken word, dance, and contributions from several local musicians. A choral cover of Queen’s ‘Somebody to Love’ and a barnstorming rendition of The Cat Empire’s ‘Chariot’ added a contemporary, international and inclusive flavour to proceedings. All the acts involved stormed the stage to close the show under a jaw-dropping fireworks display against the backdrop of the distinctive Crown Plaza Hotel and a starry, cloudless night.The ceremony was the brainchild of Neville Campbell, the founding artistic director of Tumbuka Contemporary Dance Company, who returned to Zimbabwe to direct a memorable night, while local musician Vee Mukarati obviously performed a strong role as the show’s musical director. Theatre usually attracts something of a niche audience, but a variety of stage performances this year has something for every palate. Three venues - Reps, The Standard Theatre and 7 Arts, which has clung to life despite the death of the Avondale cinema complex - will host this year’s theatre line-up.