Chronicle Editor
Yvonne Ncube, Showbiz Reporter
GENDER-based violence (GBV) is a cause for concern in the world at large and has been on the rise since the advent of Covid-19-induced lockdowns.
Despite the fact that both men and women can be victims of GBV, society has historically prioritised women as victims while marginalising men.
To tackle this issue, a play by Purple Brain Production titled Love, Her Game Of Chess is being showcased. The play is being showcased at a time when male GBV is receiving more attention on a global scale, with humanitarian organisations demonstrating flexibility in its inclusion in programming.
Director of the play, Chantelle Phindile Moyo said gender-based violence for men is a reality, something that is showcased in her play.
“Through the character Tony in the play, I seek to show the existence of gender-based violence affecting men. Tony as a character stands out. He portrays how men cheat on their wives yet still love them. Tony is a respected individual at work and in the business society, however, at home, Tony is nothing close to a man.
“He’s abused by his wife Nheta, who disrespects him and forces him to do chores to the extent of following him to work to tell him to do chores. While Tony does the chores, she on the other hand sits and looks pretty or spends the day with her own family.
“This is what drives Tony to cheat on his wife just because of the respect and love missing in his relationship. As society, we hardly recognise how men get abused as well, especially in their homes. We hardly fight for them or talk about it so we get to see it through Tony,” Moyo said.
She added that Nheta reflects the characters of women nowadays.
“She is a woman who believes in gender equality to an extent of forgetting the natural respect a married woman should give to her man. We see how women empowerment sometimes adversely affects households nowadays in our generation.
“This story is to show how people handle relationships, especially in our generation where people tend to get into relationships for the wrong reasons.”
Comprised of seven cast members, the play which was recently staged at the Bulawayo Theatre, will be showcased again on Thursday. – @SeehYvonne
Online Reporter