Tourism theatre project opens in Victoria Falls

VICTORIA Falls City has opened the first-ever theatre project with a tourism orientation that is expected to boost arrivals as well as encourage visitors to spend more nights in the city.

It is also the first project of that nature in Matabeleland North and rides on the dream set by veteran artiste, the late Cont Mhlanga, who set up Amakhosi Theatre Production in Bulawayo.

Already, more than 40 job opportunities have been created at the new production whose cast and crew has been permanently employed under Simunye Production, the one behind the stage acts.

The project adds to tourism packages offered by the destination to clients, especially those with an interest in learning and experiencing African culture as it showcases Zimbabwe, and African way of living.

The project is a brainchild of Shearwater Adventures and Three Monkeys who came together and innovated theatre as a new product as efforts are being made to modernise the tourism industry in a bid to endear the destination with contemporary travellers.

Some of the tourism packages offered in Victoria Falls have become obvious and not appealing to repeat clients hence the need for new products.

A free show was shown on Sunday night last week as the project premièred its acts with a captivating story of a kingdom entwined in power and love wrangles. The plot involves a rebellious son who is banished by his father who lusts for his choice of wife and the son returns many years later to revenge and reclaim his wife.

The scene reminded spectators of William Shakespeare’s dramas Antony and Cleopatra or Romeo and Juliet but told in the African context. The crowd was drawn from a cross-section of people including politicians, residents, tour operators and businesspersons who were mesmerised by a two-hour act presented by Simunye.

A state-of-the-art and well-decorated stage has been built behind Elephants Walk and marks an important milestone towards devolution of the arts sector from big cities to smaller towns in the country.

Simunye production manager Tariro Mushonga said people should expect fantastic shows, better music and dancing with benefits on tourism and the socio-economic well-being of locals.

“Simunye is part of a newly formed theatre company in Victoria Falls. This is the first theatre of its kind in Matabeleland North and the first tourism-oriented theatre in Zimbabwe.

“The idea is to tell the Zimbabwe story and we want everyone to come and sit here every night and watch as they enjoy the beauty of Victoria Falls, local culture and Zimbabwe lifestyle,” said Mushonga.

“I am very excited to be part of this project because I am from a big town where theatre was and now we are taking it to the countryside. We are excited that we have brought theatre out of big towns to smaller towns and in this case this is a full-time project and they are on full-time contract meaning we have created more than 40 formal jobs for youths,” he said.

The whole idea is to showcase African tourism and as a melting pot of different cultures, races, languages and ethnic groups, Victoria Falls had to be the perfect host for such theatre.

“You saw tonight’s story was like a Romeo and Juliet story but told in the Zimbabwean style. It’s a story about love, redemption, re-unification and we are excited to have people from all over the country in the cast. Many came as amateurs and were trained for two months,” he added.

One of the spectators, Kuda Hove said the project is captivating and speaks to the individual and destination while Noris Nyathi said it provides a platform for family time away from home to enjoy artistes showcasing local talent.

A tour guide, Thembinkosi Dube said this adds value to village and community tour packages that are loved by clients while Hwange West MP Vusumuzi Moyo commended Sheawater and Three Monkeys for the initiative.

Shearwater spokesperson, Clement Mukwasi said the objective is to reignite Victoria Falls at a time when most of the activities have almost become tired and predictable.

“We are hoping that the addition of this product is going to add the number of nights that tourists are going to spend in Victoria Falls,” he said.

“We are actually reincarnating the spirit of Cont Mhlanga and we hope we are going to achieve the levels that he set,” said Mukwasi.

He said they had invested and trained people and will ensure the pricing is favourable to both locals and foreign clients.-@ncubeleon