adminTWO renowned Zimbabwean playwrights have combined their efforts to pen a theatre play aimed at raising awareness on the deadly Ebola virus which has claimed thousands of lives on the African continent.
The play, titled Isolated, is set to go on stage by the end of this month and is expected to be played in all corners of the country.
Thabani Moyo, a seasoned high school arts teacher and Christopher Mlalazi, who is currently based in Germany, wrote the script about the deadly disease in a bid to spread awareness that Ebola was real.
In an interview with Sunday Leisure, Moyo said the play was not a commercial project but a Theatre for Development Project targeted at raising awareness about the disease.
“We have noted that Ebola is spreading fast throughout the globe due to mobility of people across borders, we want to warn people to take utmost care when they travel because that is the life chain of the disease. People in our community have serious misconceptions about the disease and we are trying to warn them never to take the disease for granted,” he said.
Moyo said it was their duty as playwrights and artistes to safeguard their communities. He said it was through art that they intended to drive the message home, adding that he believed it was an effective way through which people could understand and grasp the message faster.
“As playwrights we are the watchdogs for our communities and we have to respond to the needs and fears of our communities. The play is our contribution as playwrights towards fighting Ebola. We strive to share with our communities the little information we have gathered about the virus through our art,” he said.
“Using a minimal cast, the play focuses mostly on public misconceptions of the disease which are highly dangerous as they can lead to further infections that could easily be prevented especially in disadvantaged communities.”
Moyo said they were putting final touches to the script after which they would start rehearsing the play earlier this month before its launch at the end of the month.
“Our timelines are set, we are getting into the rehearsal room at the beginning of the month and between the 22nd and the 29th we have to launch the play,” said Moyo.
Moyo appealed to all well-wishers including the Government to sponsor the play as they were looking for funds to cater for transport and other provisions like accommodation.
“What we are looking for right now are partners who can make it possible for the product to be realised and make it available to communities. We need to take care of our artistes’ needs in terms of transport provisions and accommodation if we are to realise the full potential of the project,” he said.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO) Ebola has risen by 70 percent and there are estimations that there could be up to 10 000 new cases of Ebola per week within the next coming two weeks.
Ebola has caused panic all over the world with most governments closing their borders to people coming from the virus-stricken countries.
Online Reporter