Socio-political trauma captured in play

APLAY that explores the world of socio-political trauma, The Good Minister from Kunyarara is set to premiere tomorrow evening at Reps Theatre in Belgravia, Harare.

Written by American playwright and actress June Carryl and directed by local theatre practitioner Tafadzwa Bob Mutumbi, the paly will be staged till Saturday.

Mutumbi told NewsDay Life & Style that the premiere of the play is a ground-breaking exercise for the production.

“The worldwide premiere of the ground-breaking production kicks off from May 12 to 15 at Reps Theatre. It will be showcased from May 19 to 22. We invite audiences to reconnect with theatre as a powerful storytelling medium and incite conversations about healing,” he said.

Mutumbi said the play was set in a typical African country.

“The Good Minister from Kunyarara is a fusion of storytelling, dramatic movement, dance, poetic text and music.

“In the play, a small-time district administrator finds himself in hot water when his father asks for a favour. What kind of favour is it?

“It is now up to those who will watch to see as the story unfolds,” he said.

Mutumbi said the play’s cast included Tadziyana Bvumbe, Chipo Chikara, Charmaine Mujeri, Cadrick Musongelwa, and Musa Sibanda with the sixth role to be portrayed by a surprise guest revealed to audiences on the opening night.

He added that working with Carryl was an enriching experience.

“I got to collaborate with June after communicating through our mutual friend James Carey who runs a theatre in Los Angeles, United States. He also works in Hollywood and has been in Zimbabwe several times,” he said. “There was so much empowering energy in the process. So much to discover, to listen to, to deepen, to play with, to trust in self, to trust the process and luxuriate in the unknown.”

Carryl’s acting credits include critically acclaimed American psychological crime thriller series Mindhunter, Law and Order: LA, Dead to Me and American Crime Story.

Tickets for the play are selling for US$10 and are available through Reps Theatre online booking system Spotlight.