Online Reporter
Gift Moyo [email protected]
Zimbabwean theatre witnessed a powerful moment this past weekend as the Reps Theatre in Harare came alive with the premiere of Yellow Dog Dingo, a thought-provoking production that brought together some of the country’s finest creative minds.
Globally acclaimed contemporary writer Petina Gappah, visionary director Tafadzwa Bob Mutumbi and Munyaradzi Chidzonga delivered a compelling theatrical experience that blended storytelling, music, visuals and dialogue to explore the complexities of grief, trauma and healing.
The production follows the journey of a man confronting painful memories from his childhood after experiencing abuse at a school. Years later, he seeks to face the priest responsible, opening a difficult but necessary conversation around trauma, accountability and the long-lasting effects of abuse.
The opening night was met with overwhelming support, with tickets selling out as audiences packed Reps Theatre to witness Gappah’s much-anticipated theatrical debut.
Reflecting on the occasion, Gappah said the response from audiences marked a defining moment in her journey as a writer, giving her the feeling that she had finally stepped into the world of playwrights.
“On the opening night of the show at Reps Theatre, I finally felt that feeling of being a playwright. We’ve had two public performances of this play already. The first one was a staged reading where the protagonist of the play was being delivered to the audience through the medium of the page, so Munanyashe Mudzonga was reading from the script,” she said.
The production’s impact extended beyond the stage, with post-show discussions becoming a key feature of the performances. Audiences engaged with the cast and creative team in conversations centred on the themes explored in the play, creating a space for reflection and dialogue.
Gappah said the discussions became an important part of the production, allowing people from different backgrounds to share experiences and engage with difficult subjects in a constructive manner.
“We had five performances over four days. Each performance was different because so much in theatre depends on the alchemy between the performers and the audience, but each performance was spectacular,” she said.
“The audience at each of the performances joined in our post-show discussions. We had doctors, fellow playwrights, actors, Jesuit priests, academics, Catholics, people from other churches, and from all backgrounds.”
She added that the conversations highlighted the importance of addressing issues such as historical abuse in institutions, saying theatre can play a role in encouraging healing and accountability.
“It was particularly moving to hear from those with experiences of the issues raised in the play, including alcohol abuse, those who lost family members to suicide, and those who saw first-hand the historic sexual abuse at Catholic schools,” said Gappah.
“The discussions were constructive and healing. My wish is that the Catholic hierarchy in Zimbabwe, particularly the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, could see the play so that they understand that there is a constructive way forward in dealing with the documented historic sexual abuse of children that happened in some of their schools.”
She said the production team hopes to continue these conversations as they prepare to take Yellow Dog Dingo beyond Harare.
“We hope to continue these conversations as we tour the play throughout Zimbabwe next year, as well as in Africa and the world,” she said.
For Gappah, the overwhelming turnout was also a reminder of the power of local audiences and their willingness to support homegrown productions despite economic challenges.
“Seeing people fill up the Reps Theatre in this difficult economy, paying for tickets with their hard-earned money just to watch something that I had written, brought to life by a brilliant actor and directed by possibly the most incredible person that I know in Zimbabwe’s theatre industry, was just the most incredible thing that one could witness,” she said.
“That was the moment where I started to believe that I had become a playwright.”
Following the successful run, Gappah and her team have revealed plans to take Yellow Dog Dingo on a nationwide tour next year, with final details still being confirmed before dates and venues are announced.
