Stage readings resume

The goal of stage readings is to promote dramatic literacy and also to create awareness and understanding of theatrical works, both old and new.
Written by award-winning playwright Sarah Ruhl and directed by American director Julie Wharton “Dead Man’s Cellphone” is a comedy about a woman, Jean, who is innocently seating in a café when a man’s cellphone rings.

It rings, and keeps on ringing. The man doesn’t answer because as the title suggests, the man is dead.
However, Jean eventually picks up the phone and when she discovers that its owner is dead, she quietly decides to keep the phone to keep him alive in a strange but significant way.

The story is about how mobile phones now affect our lives, our relationships, levels of socialisation and have in a way become a culture.
The stage readings on this play will feature Sandra Chidawanyika-Goliath, Charmaine Mujeri, Dalma Chiwereva and Tafadzwa Bob Mutumbi, a young seasoned, but talented actor who has featured in many theatrical productions that include August Strindberg’s “The Father”.

Speaking on the “Dead Man’s Cellphone” stage readings, Wharton commended the cast for their readiness to learn and to adopt new ideas.
“I am loving the conversations that I am having with the cast about their characters and the theme of the show.
“The actors are extremely focused and interested in the ideas sparked by the story, and I have enjoyed their surprises, how entertained, shocked or amused by their characters.

“They are all experiencing the magic of the writing and working to bring the writing to life, thanks to Almasi Collaborative Arts for affording them the platform,” she said.
Almasi Collaborative Arts is an organisation that was founded by Zimbabwean-American Hollywood-based Danai Gurira and local film and theatre practitioner Patience Tawengwa.

Boasting diverse experience in both film and theatre, the two decided to put their heads together to promote and develop the arts by affording artistes an opportunity to showcase their artistic talents in drama, hence the launch of the stage readings.

The stage readings, which were launched in November last year at the University of Zimbabwe, have received good responses so far and artistes have used the platform to network and develop their contacts database.