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Sophia Chese Arts Correspondent
Theatre lovers this year are in for a treat at the Harare International Festival of the Arts as a Shakespearan tragedy and a comedy performed by local casts hit the stage. The plays are “Macbeth” and “A Comedy of Errors”.In an interview with The Herald Entertainment, Hifa spokesperson Tafadzwa Simba said Shakespearan plays have been supercharged with the rich sounds and sights of Zimbabwe.
“The plays are likely to have a positive impact on the Zimbabwean audience since it had been slightly changed to fit the Zimbabwean environment.
He said Tumbuka Dance Company are in charge of choreography, Julia Wharton will direct and music will be courtesy of Zvikomborero Rwodzi and Nokutenda Chinyamakobvu.
Macbeth tracks the downfall of a man driven by ambition gone into overdrive after he is tantalised by a prophecy. Macbeth is informed by three witches that he is destined to become King of Scotland.
When he shares the news with his wife she pushes him into killing the current ruler instead of waiting for the prophecy to come true in due course. Once he has crossed the line, Macbeth finds himself in a downward spiral in which he must keep on killing to secure his ill-begotten position.
The play is a regular set book in secondary school English Literature curriculum and also a notable Shakespeare classic in its own right.
It will be interesting to find out how they handle the scene with the drunken porter which provides some levity in the otherwise brooding castle of the Scottish Highlands in which the play is set.
“A Comedy of Errors” as the name implies is all about hilarity for the audience arising from mistakes by the characters. Two pairs of estranged brothers, all called Antipholus, and two pairs of estranged slaves, all called Dromio are unaware of each other’s existence.
Farcical mix-ups occur when all the twins meet in Ephesus, a city with a reputation for sorcery.
This year’s edition of Hifa will be running from April 28 to May 3 under the theme “Articulate” and Mali’s Afro pop singer and songwriter Salif Keita is set to return as the closing highlight.
He will be sharing the stage with Hope Masike.
Mokoomba has been a regular feature at Hifa but this will be their first time to perform as the opening act of one of Africa’s leading international arts festivals.
The opening act will also feature the ever superlative Chitungwiza Harmony Singers and Tumbuka Dance Company.
Online Reporter