Online Reporter
Mthokozisi Ncube, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
“Not disappointing.” That is how Mazwendoda J Ndlovu, Geraldine Roche Arts Academy programmes administrator, summed up their latest production, Tinted Windows, staged from November 21 to 22 at the Bulawayo Theatre. The youth-focused play drew an impressive crowd, with just over 200 tickets sold out of the 365-seat capacity.
“I didn’t quite fill the theatre, maybe I was short by 100, but I was pleased with the turnout,” Ndlovu said.
The show benefitted from strong grassroots marketing driven by Geraldine students themselves. Young people, some as young as 13, turned up in numbers and Bulawayo residents were struck by the quality of the performance.
The play left many teenagers visibly emotional, thanks to a storyline that blended humour with hard-hitting real-life issues.
The production opened on a light, cheerful tone but gradually deepened, touching on challenges faced by young people today.
One of the play’s most striking scenes centred on the main character, a girl born HIV-positive who hosts a party. When an alarm on her phone displays her medication reminder, panic grips the characters who had made risky decisions earlier in the story.
“They immediately regretted not being careful. And the character herself carried anger from being mistreated because of her status. That storyline resonated with audiences who may have gone through similar experiences,” Ndlovu said.
The play also addressed drug use, showing a teenager experimenting and later regretting the decision.
Throughout the performance, the message was clear: young people need safe spaces to talk, and parents need to engage them with openness and understanding. Parents later told Ndlovu that the scene helped them understand the pressures young people face.
After the show, several audience members approached Ndlovu, asking why he had chosen to explore community issues such as bullying, drug use and relationships. They said the story felt relatable and many expressed a desire to return with friends.
Despite the demand, the production will not be staged again this December, as the theatre is already fully booked.
Although there were no post-show discussions due to the two-hour runtime, the production received heartfelt responses.
“People shared their thoughts as they were leaving the theatre and even on WhatsApp. Parents said it carried a powerful message, while teenagers were emotional at the end,” Ndlovu said.
Inspired by the feedback, Ndlovu is now exploring ways to take the production directly to schools next year.
“It’s a big production with a 26-member cast, 22 of them students, so it’s costly. But from January, I want to involve schools like Eveline High, which already have theatre spaces. I hadn’t thought about it before, but now that the idea is on the table…”
He also revealed plans to make the play available online to reach wider audiences.
