Playlab Art House

A Home for Film, Performing Arts, and Creativity in Northern Rwanda.

First Independent Theatre in Northern province of Rwanda

Why This Theatre Matters

Playlab Art House is a cultural space founded by Shema Deve, a Rwandan film producer, to advance creative expression, cultural access, and sustainable artistic development in Northern Rwanda. The initiative established the first theatre in the history of the Northern Province, creating a much-needed platform for cinema, performing arts, and community cultural engagement.

Musanze District, covering approximately 530.3 km² and home to nearly half a million residents, is one of Rwanda’s most vibrant and fast-growing cultural regions. The district has a strong youth population, with over 85,000 young people aged 20–29 and more than 71,000 aged 30–39, representing a powerful generation for the future of Rwanda’s creative and cultural industries.

Playlab Art House also serves neighbouring Rubavu District, a key urban and cultural gateway in Western Rwanda, with a population of over 540,000 residents. Rubavu hosts a significant youth demographic, with approximately 95,000 people aged 20–29 and more than 80,000 aged 30–39. Despite this large and creative youth population, both districts lack adequately equipped professional cultural spaces and platforms for artistic expression.