Online Reporter
Trust Khosa
Zimpapers Arts Entertainment Hub
The 2025 theatre season may be done, but it will be remembered for the significant revival of the genre.
In recent years, theatre faced stagnation due to a lack of suitable venues and insufficient sponsorship.
However, 2025 marked a turning point as theatre enthusiasts stepped in to breathe new life into the sector.
Key figures instrumental in this revival included Daves Guzha, Peter Churu, Jasen Mphepo, Daniel Maposa, and Stanley Mambo, who has settled in Malawi.
The former Studio 263 actor, who now fronts Mwezi Entertainment, has been touring the sub-region with the play State of the Ape, which he plans to bring to Zimbabwe early next year.
Additionally, it is important to highlight Guzha’s impactful production in 2025, Song Unburied, which concluded its season with a performance in Kenya this month.
He directed the play, hailed as an intergenerational story of re-memory, remembering, and reparations, following the troubled spirit of the anti-colonial heroine Mbuya Nehanda, whose remains were taken by colonialists.
Written by Panashe Chigumadzi, it featured performances by Charmaine Mujeri and Dalma Chiwevera, alongside Tinevimbo Chimbetete and mbira player Abel Mafuleni. To date, it has toured South Africa, Malawi, Comoros, Barbados, and Kenya.
In Nairobi, it was showcased at the National Museum Amphitheatre as part of The Kenya International Theatre Festival (KitFest) early this month.
Next year, it will be showcased in Lagos, Nigeria, in March, and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in February. This is a triumph for Zimbabwean creatives considering Nigeria’s impact in the arts.
Fellow directors Maposa and Mphepo, renowned for championing theatre for development, have gone the extra mile in reviving theatre by staging a new play titled Women’s Night, providing theatre lovers with four nights filled with laughter and entertainment. This also marked a reunion of the duo, who shared the stage for the first time in 20 years while pursuing solo careers.
This collaboration between Savanna Trust and Kuckuck Productions was directed by Swiss producer Roger Nydegger, who also showcased five other talented theatre professionals: Stewart Sakarombe, Ellaine Ncube, Henry Mutekede, Tafadzwa Mutumbi, and Francis Nyakuhwa.
“The production marked an important step in strengthening cultural exchange while showcasing local talent on the professional stage,” he shared, reflecting on the 2025 season.
Churu, who has been in the game for over three decades, made an impression by empowering female actors during the past season.
He directed a one-hander titled Molly Street, which was popular with fans. The play tackled social ills, including sexual harassment, domestic violence, and poverty.
Written and directed by Churu, it starred actress Chido Joan Tenga as Molly, depicting crimes of passion and domestic violence. Patrick Tembo provided the soundtrack.
He also presented another play titled 40 Days, which captured the aftermath of Covid-19.
The cast featured actress Stacey Dombodzvuku, who performed exceptionally well. The play addressed the lingering effects of the Covid-19 lockdowns, which continue to haunt many.
Described as “a poetic reflection on the pandemic, pain, and the power of hope,” Churu’s intriguing production showcases his talents as a theatre director while revisiting the wounds inflicted by the pandemic.
Churu’s production served as a mirror to societal issues magnified during the pandemic, including isolation, grief, migration, fractured identities, and the universal yearning for meaning. Despite a seemingly successful 2025 season, the sector faces ongoing challenges. While many people worldwide still value theatrical performances, the situation in Zimbabwe is grim for theatre directors and actors. Lack of funding has been the biggest setback, as most plays in Zimbabwe are self-funded.
This has led some actors to migrate to stand-up comedy and skits for easier income while the old guard prioritises theatre, which is quite demanding.
Theatre gurus, including Maposa, Guzha, Churu, Mphepo, and UK-based theatre director and actress Enisia Mashusha, have been funding their own resources to support their productions.
With the creative sector reeling from poor funding, sustainability remains a significant challenge.
Additionally, a shortage of creative spaces has posed another challenge, as some well-known venues are priced beyond the reach of many.
This was particularly daunting during the 2025 season, as some venues were too expensive to hire.
Popular venues in Zimbabwe include Amakhosi Theatre in Bulawayo, Charles Austin Theatre in Masvingo, the newly renovated Theatre in the Park in Harare, Reps Theatre, 7 Arts Theatre in Harare, and Jasen Mphepo Little Theatre, famed for hosting intriguing plays.
Despite these challenges, theatre stalwarts have remained steadfast and resolute in their efforts during 2025 under harsh economic conditions.
It is encouraging to note that many plays went on international tours, allowing the Zimbabwean story to be told by its own creatives through the medium of theatre, which remains popular back home.
dyton mupawaenda