Online Reporter
Langalakhe Mabena, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
The Bulawayo Theatre Club and award-winning ensemble Khaya Arts are set to take the Ipi Ntombi to Harare as they are scheduled to present the epic play at Reps Theatre on 15 and 16 August.
For the Harare gig, the Bulawayo Theatre club will be working closely with the Reps Theatre club.
Ipi Ntombi – a timeless musical reimagined for a local stage – was originally composed and produced in 1974 by South African writers Bertha Egnos Godfrey and her daughter Gail Lakie.
It was brought back to life through a collaborative effort between the Bulawayo Theatre Club and award-winning arts ensemble Khaya Arts.
Directed by seasoned playwright Sandy Bradnick, with Vusi Ndebele as the music director and Future Dube of Khaya Arts as choreographer, the production blends old and new theatrical touches, offering a fresh yet respectful take on the classic.
The set construction and props for the play are impressively handled by Candy and Amy Murrell, adding to the authenticity of the experience.
The play narrates the story of a young black man who leaves his rural home and wife to work in the Johannesburg mines, a common experience for many Southern African men in the apartheid era.
Told through a vibrant pastiche of South African musical genres including imbube, maskandi, and jazz, the story unfolds with African traditional dance interludes that bring the stage to life.
As the dates for the events are approaching, those who will attend the event must expect to be treated to a great show, one they will cherish and enjoy.
derick.khumalo