Chipawo showcases ‘The Key’ tonight

In a bid to celebrate and promote the girl child, Children’s Performing Arts Workshop (Chipawo) New Horizon Theatre are hosting a new play entitled “The Key” tonight at Theatre in the Park.

THE play which was written and directed by Chipo Basopo and Ronald Chindungwe has been touring other parts of Zimbabwe and will be in Harare although it was staged at this year’s edition of Harare International Festival of Arts (HIFA).

It features two young actors Gamuchirai Mukwakwami and Chido Tenga.

It was also staged at the Intwasa Festival in Bulawayo.

In an interview, Basopo who is also Chipawo’s manager and director of the play, said “The Key” is a thought provoking play and takes a look at modern day girl child.

“This month of October is the month to celebrate International Day of the Girl Child.

“This is a wholly new production from the New Horizon Theatre

A scene from “The Key”

Company, part of the worldfamous Chipawo Trust Zimbabwe. The story takes a look at the modern day girl child’s struggles to find her space and place in a world that is busy trying to control her,” she said.

Basopo said the play has a universal appeal, tackling a subject that affects all young adults in rich or poor countries.

“The play cleverly mixes different theatre art forms from physical to dance, music and speech.

It is a must watch for both old and new theatre lovers,” she said.

The play centres on Fadzai, a young girl who has just turned 21 years old and has enrolled for a degree programme she doesn’t like.

She finds herself questioning all that she has known, from birth till this stage, trying to find meaning and purpose of her life.

Fadzai starts probing and asking herself hard questions. What does she need to do to live the life she wants?

Meanwhile, Chipawo, recently took part in the prestigious International Ibsen Conference in Skien, Norway — Ibsen’s birthplace. Henrik Ibsen, the Norwegian playwright, is one of the most famous and influential writers in world theatre.

The group was represented by Memory Zidaka, Robert Mshengu and Tinevimbo Chimbetete who gave a resounding keynote presentation.