A match made in heaven

Stephen Chifunyise Theatre Corridors
SINCE the Harare International Festival of the Arts in May, there has not been much theatre activity in Harare to talk about. This column survives on the existence in Harare and other parts of the country of theatre events and in particular new developments in the theatre industry. The unavailability of the space that was Theatre in the Park in Harare Gardens has impacted negatively on the theatre scene in Harare. In the past the space provided opportunities for plays that been featured at Hifa to be staged for much longer periods.

On Saturday, August 31, however, two thespians gave the Harare theatre scene something to write home about when Blessing Hungwe, the prolific playwright, actor and theatre director, wrote another chapter with a storybook wedding to Rumbidzai Karize, a thespian par excellence in her own right.

Hungwe has been labelled the dark writer of his generation due to the morbid nature of his plays so far. The dark elements of his society which he has  dealt with range from xenophobia, child trafficking to early childhood marriages. These are subjects that have not inspired much laughter or indeed happiness.

Those familiar with the recent Harare theatre scene will remember Rumbidzai Karize as one the nominees for the Most Outstanding Theatre Actress in the National Arts Merit Awards 2012 for her sterling performances in “When Angels Weep”. The weeding of two thespians took place at Palm Oasis in Harare and was witnessed by friends and family members numbering in excess of 300 .The wedding function which started at 3pm ended at midnight. Guests were serenaded by jazz sensation Blaqberry, which was fronted by Eve Kawadza.
In attendance were theatre celebrities that included Daves Guzha, Patrick Tembo, Lloyd Nyikadzino, Hifa theatre consultant Elton Mjanana and his wife, the ever effervescent jazz icon Edith We Utonga, filmmakers  Obrien Mudyiwenyama and Rumbi Katedza, fashion designer  Sabina Mutswati , legendary actress  Memory Bhusvusvu, just to mention a few of theatre and film- makers .

The bride, Rumbidzai, graduated from the University of Zimbabwe in 2010 with a degree in English and Theatre Arts. In the same year Rumbidzai alongside four of her graduating colleagues teamed up with four seasoned theatre practitioners in a ground-breaking initiative that formed Tsimba Arts — a theatre entity that sought to infuse practical theatre experience with academic excellence. Under this initiative Rumbidzai was the lead actress in the epic piece “Apokalupsis” which was nominated in the Nama 2010 for the Most Outstanding Theatre Production.

The following year she became a member of NKM Theatre Initiative whose play “Burn Mukwerekwere Burn” won the Nama 2011 Most Outstanding Theatre award. This showed her versatility when she starred in a short film “Ndiriwako” produced by the Zimbabwe International Film Festival short film project. This year Rumbidzai was also the lead actress in another NKM Theatre Initiative production “Looking into the Abyss” that premiered at Hifa. She has also starred in yet to be released short film titled “Something Nice from London”. The film is a result of British Council collaboration with Latimer Productions of London and local film-makers.

The groom, Blessing Hungwe, began his theatre career in 2004 with Studio 263 — a soap on Zimbabwe Television. Blessing worked on and off the soap in various capacities that included first assistant director, head writer and production manager from 2005 to 2010. In 2006 he worked on various film projects  under the Zimbabwe International Film Festival project.

In 2007, Blessing got his major theatre break  with a leading role in “Crocodile”, a Hifa-led project under the directorship of the London-based Giles Ramsey.

In the same year, he travelled to the United States of America as part of an international ensemble to bring to life Ovid’s “Metamorphosis” to Green of Dartmouth College. While there, he held a reading of the play “Crocodile” with a Broadway actress, Lisa Harrow.

Upon his return home, Blessing featured as an actor in “Madam Speaker Sir “(Theatre in the Park, 2007)” “Everyday Heroes” (Hifa 2008), “Sahwira — The Spirit of Friendship” (Theatre in the Park, 2008) “Teeth” (Theatre in the Park, 2008). Under the auspices of Ndiripo Kana Muripo Theatre Initiative (NKM Theatre Initiative ) Blessing has penned, produced and featured in “Burn Mukwerekwere Burn” (Hifa 2011) “When Angels Weep” (Hifa 2012) “Looking Into the Abyss” (Hifa 2013). Blessing also produced for Hifa 2009 the masterpiece “Oedipus”.
Blessing is also a graduate of the Hifa DIRECT programme where he directed the play “Disconnected” by Musekiwa Samuriwo. He has also been very active in television and film with writing projects such as “The Team” (TV series 2012), “Ghetto Fellas” (Sitcom 2011,) “New Dawn” (2012) and two short films under the title “I want a Wedding Dress”.

Recently Blessing adapted and directed for film “The Two Leaders I Know” written by Stephen Chifunyise and Raisedon Baya. He has also recently adapted Patrick Chasaya’s “Sinners” and was also the first assistant director for an international short film “Freestate” that recently premiered at the IIFF festival held in Harare.

The husband and wife team is currently working on a play “Our Journey” which traces the journey of a young Zimbabwean woman across Zimbabwe, abroad and back to her roots from 1980 to 2008.

As the power behind the NKM Theatre Initiative, the couple has plans to create a new dimension in the theatre ensemble by writing and co-directing a two hander in which they will feature.

On the other hand, Blessing is currently writing a play which is an assignment for the Royal Court Theatre Training Programme which features ten other Zimbabwean playwrights.

There is no doubt that this couple will not only demonstrate how a marriage built on love and common passion in theatre can last all challenges and yield our nation a rich theatre heritage.

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