adminPeter Matika, Senior Leisure Reporter
2015 marks the 24th world anniversary of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign, initiated in 1991 and co-ordinated by the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership.
To commemorate this year’s 16 days of activism, local female artistes and activists in Women in Theatre and Television (WITT) are set to premiere a new production titled “Let It Out”, this Friday — 4 December at the National Art Gallery in Bulawayo.
The premiere will also feature entertainment in the form of poetry, music and dance from various artistes.
According to a statement issued to Sunday Leisure from Nhimbe Trust, the production is an hour long that takes a modern outlook to theatre and consists of a collection of pieces of theatre intertwined together to tell different stories of different women in society.
“From rich, middle class and low class society but they all have a story to tell of their survival to claim freedom from various forms of gender based abuse,” read the statement.
It also read that the play was about modern women with different personalities and backgrounds brought together by fate.
“Most of these women meet in a queue while waiting to be served by a well-known prophet in the city and they comically share their secrets, which are full of tears and laughter while others claim their freedom in the house,” read the statement.
The production was co-produced and written by Thembelihle Moyo, Nonhlalo Dube and Nomashawekazi Damasane.
The production features prominent names such as Sarah Mpofu- Sibanda, Nomashawekazi Damasane, warmly known as Lady Tshawe, Precious Makulumo, Gift Chakuvinga, Nomvuyiso Mpofu and Qeqeshiwe Mntambo.
Nomashawekazi Damasane
Nomashawekazi Michelle Sangiwenkosi Damasane also known as Lady Tshawe is a multi-talented artiste whose artistic style, expression and image embody her abilities, aspirations and achievements as a musician, poet, writer, dancer, actress and creative thinker.
She has starred in productions such as Mr Perfect, a television series broadcasted on the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), starred in the movie Qiniso, performed in Zambezi Express, performed in The Really Stupid Things Men Say at the Harare International Festival of the Arts (Hifa) and published a book of poems titled “Through The ‘I’ Of Poetry” as well as many other artistic productions and products.
Precious Makulumo
Precious is an experienced actress who has starred in the ZBC television series Amakorokoza and in the sitcom Choose Mazikhethela. She has also been in the local blockbuster movie The Gentleman, as well as a locally produced movie titled Nomhle. On the stage she has starred in Song of a Woman by Women in Theatre and For You I among other productions.
Gift Chakuvinga
Gift is a seasoned actor who has experience in both theatrical and television acting. He has starred in the ZBC programme Suku. On the stage he has starred in the award-winning stage production UMbiko KaMadlenya, The Taking, Without a Name, set book plays including the Lion And The Jewel, The Importance Of Being Ernest among many others.
Qeqeshiwe Mntambo
Qeqeshiwe is an actress and musician. She has starred in two ZBC productions which are Suku and Mr Perfect and got an award for best actress for her role in Suku. She has also starred in a stage play called Stitsha and has performed at the Harare International Festival of the Arts (Hifa) in a play titled It Never Rains But Pours.
Nomvuyiso Mpofu
Nomvuyiso is an actress who has recently featured at Intwasa Arts Festival in the production Without a Name; she also starred in Women in Theatre’s play Song of Woman among other plays. In television productions she has featured in Choose Mazikhethela and a documentary called Family.
Sarah Mpofu-Sibanda
Sarah Mpofu-Sibanda is an experienced actress who needs no introduction in the showbiz industry. A seasoned actress, modelling instructor and businesswoman who possesses a powerful role in the arts.
She is popularly known for her role in a local television drama series, Amakorokoza and also starred in the locally produced movie, Sinners.
This year the campaign started on 25 November and will last until 10 December.
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign is a time to galvanise action to end violence against women and girls around the world. The international campaign originated from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute co-ordinated by the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership in 1991.
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