adminNkululeko Nkala
Yes, it passed and it may seem like we did not pay attention, but we did. It’s our public holiday, our day of celebrating the stage.
Last week was International World Theatre Day.
The whole world marked this day with theatre performances and speeches by renowned thespians. In Harare last week Theatre in Park celebrated the day by introducing a three-day international theatre festival.
Every year the International Theatre Institute (ITI) chooses one international theatre person to write a message for everyone. This year’s message is written by Cuban director Carlos Celdra, whose speech touches on the theatre as world on its own, with traditions and legacies.
Other previous writers of the message include Dario Fo, John Malkovich, Judi Dench, Augusto Baol, Vaclav Havel and Wole Soyinka just to name a few.
In Bulawayo the commemorations came a week later. Three plays are lined up for the celebrations. The three plays are Witch-hunters, The Last Days of King Afrika and Garden of Dreams.
The Witch-hunters
A play that premièred at the Arts Extra in December follows a 94-year-old woman in a certain village in Zimbabwe who is suddenly accused of witchcraft by other villagers. The villagers want her gone, others want her burnt alive, citing the misfortune that has befallen the village in the past years as evidence of her witchcraft. Drought. A lot of deaths. Unexplained disappearances. Others migrating for good from the village.
The tsikamundas/ witch-hunters trap the old woman and put her on trial.
The whole village must decide whether she is guilty or not. If she is guilty they must burn her or banish her from the village for good.
This is a gripping story about life in Zimbabwe and the many beliefs we associate with our failures. The play is written and directed by Raisedon Baya and features the amazing cast from Centre for Talent Development.
The last days of King Afrika
This is a ficticious story about the last days of a well-known and well-travelled African dictator.
The story is set in an unnamed African country. However, the events that unfold in this play are too close to home. The play is written by Raisedon Baya and directed by Memory Kumbota and has seasoned actors.
Garden of Dreams
This is veteran Memory Kumbota’s take on mental health. Zimbabwe’s health sector is in shambles. Many people are stressed. And many are losing their minds. It looks at how deferred dreams affect us and puts the psyche under a microscope. Written and directed by Kumbota the play stars award winning Gift Chakuvinga, Charmaine Mudau, Kedrick Msongelwa, award winning Zenzo Nyathi and Ronald Sgeca.
The fourth, fifth and sixth of April are days not to miss at the theatre. $5 gets you in for each show.
Until next week, be safe …
@nkuenkala 0772214373
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