Online Reporter
Trust Khosa
Zimpapers Arts Entertainment Hub
NEW Zealand-bound actress Charity Dlodlo says there is a celebration of mediocrity in this country when it comes to content creators.
She says many content creators were producing poor material.
Dlodlo is set to present her one-woman play, Once An Actress, next month in New Zealand.
“I have observed that many who call themselves actors or actresses are simply proud smartphone owners,” she said.
“While I can’t stop them from this practice, my concern as a professional is that people are being fed mediocre content.
“It’s evident that there is no script whatsoever, and everything appears haphazard.
“Such content will never appeal to the international community, only to a local audience.” Better known as Mai Madziva in Studio 263, the actress revealed that she was groomed and nurtured by great minds in film and theatre.
“I have always been an actress but I became a professional one after being auditioned by the late Godwin Mawuru, who brought me into Studio 263.
“Afterwards, I featured in several productions like Bvunze Moto, The Zimbabwe I Know and The Hero, among others.
“Now I have an international assignment, and being invited to the New Zealand festivals is truly a historic and humbling moment.”
Written by British author Tony Layton and produced by UK-based Patience Tavengwa, this insightful production will run at the Nelson Fringe Festival from March 5-7
Dlodlo will further delight theatre enthusiasts at the Dunedin Fringe Festival, with additional performances scheduled from March 15-17.
“As the only Zimbabwean selected, I carry this opportunity with immense pride and responsibility. This is no longer just about me or about the play; it is about representing Zimbabwe, its talent, its stories, and its creative spirit on an international stage.
“This opportunity means growth, recognition, and the opening of new doors – not only for me but hopefully for other Zimbabwean creatives who will follow.”
She noted that this one-woman show was special to her, as she produced it under challenging conditions.
“I produced and performed the piece during the COVID era under extremely difficult circumstances.
“In a time when traditional theatre productions were restricted globally, I relocated to Malawi for a year to rehearse and stage the play. The production was directed by Stanley Mambo in Malawi.”
The one-woman format was also a practical and artistic response to the COVID restrictions of that time.
“Producing and performing Once an Actress under such conditions required resilience, adaptability, and determination.
“That journey makes this international recognition even more meaningful,” she said. Born in Bulawayo into a family of four — three girls and one boy — Dlodlo completed part of her primary education in the City of Kings and continued her studies in Chiredzi and Mashava.
She completed her secondary education at Victoria High School in Masvingo and later studied film.
