adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
PLUMTREE based drama group, Yebo Yes Performing Arts is set to produce a play titled SamaVoe: The Heartbreaker’ which will be distributed next month. In an interview, Yebo Yes Arts Trust director, Brighton Professor Sibanda said the play tackles socio economic challenges affecting youths. “The play that we are working on tackles the social and economic issues that affect not only Khalanga youths but people from other surrounding areas. The play addresses border jumping, child abuse, abortion and polygamy as well as HIV and Aids,” he said.
Professor said the play was at script reading stage and the initial shooting had been scheduled for 19 August.
“At the moment we have been distributing scripts to the cast which comprises 14 actors and actresses. From there we will hold a workshop for the artists and then we will begin the rehearsals and actual shooting.
“We will be shooting from Plumtree as that is where our group originates. We hope to be done by 31 August and from there we will be distributing DVDs,” said Professor.
He said the drama group mooted the idea of producing the play after realising the illegal immigration rush in the border town.
“We realised that illegal immigration is rampant in Plumtree. It now appears to be a culture that youths neglect their studies and run off to neighbouring countries in search of jobs. Some of these youngsters fall in the hands of the wrong people and end up being abused sexually.
“We also realised that a number of young people are falling pregnant at a tender age. These are some of the aspects that we wish to address not only in Plumtree, but even beyond as they affect a number of people,” said Professor.
He said the drama group has in the past been holding plays within schools and the community of Plumtree in an attempt to educate people on these issues.
“We thought it best that we scale up our information dissemination strategies to cover a large audience. Our main trust is offering youth edutainment services where we educate through entertainment.
“We have been holding plays at schools and in the community and we want our message to reach a wider audience that is why we are producing the play,” said Professor.
He said the play was about SamaVoe who is a married man but is unemployed. His wife resorts to travelling to Botswana illegally where she buys goods for reselling, but is later raped on her way and contracts HIV which she later passes on to her husband. SamaVoe later becomes promiscuous and infects several other women including a Form Three pupil that he impregnates.
Online Reporter