Studio 263 actress shines in Malawi
One of the key characters in the once-popular domestic soap Stu
dio 263, Charity Dlodlo, is causing a stir in the Malawi theatre circles with the premiere of her debut production as director.
Once Upon an Actress was first shown to an audience at Madsoc Theatre in Lilongwe yesterday and it will also be staged today before it goes on tour to the commercial capital, Blantyre, and then Zomba. Thereafter, plans are on the cards to move it to Harare in May.
Dlodlo, who has a long list of drama, film and theatre works to her name, starred as Mai Madziva in what can arguably be rated as the most popular and consistent silver screen drama in Zimbabwe — Studio 263.
And during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, she briefly "relocated" to the Warm Heart of Africa and teamed up with Stanley Mambo (founder of Mwezi Arts), who himself is a director/adapter par excellence.
The duo then pooled together a collaboration of a vibrant and mature cast from both Malawi and Zimbabwe to produce a fine drama that chronicles the tribulations of a woman artiste. Its quest is to mirror the realities faced by an African actress.
With Dlodlo herself as producer and protagonist, she is assisted by Hazel Musochera as co-producer; Martin Juwa and photojournalist Angela Jimu channelling the dramaturgy while Frank Pakaine and Kuseli Chisale complement the production.
The play could not have come at a better time than now when the world is celebrating women's month.
In Once Upon an Actress, Dlodlo is Sarah Mugabe, the main actress who lays bare the challenges confronting artistes of the female gender.
"For the actress in the production, life has been a roller-coaster with good and especially bad moments. As you may appreciate, acting has never been about putting food on the table, but simply to fulfil a passion.
"So Sarah gets an opportunity to act but owing to the numerous challenges that she meets with, she decides to go back to her old work. There are issues of sexual harassment, among a legion of other negatives.
"The play is related to us, especially as Africans, and it teaches us that if one does not stand up for what they believe in, other people will take advantage," said Dlodlo in a telephone interview from Lilongwe last week.
Said a statement from Mwozi Arts about this 2021 season opening production:
"Featuring (Charity) Dlodlo whose diversity amazingly complements this one handler with uplifting "Educating Rita" element of a mature women's intellectual "Rags to Riches" tale...it's a story that consumes the audience. And yet it leaves a distinct feeling from unexpected but unfulfilled ambitions. It is an essential initiative in this critical Covid era."
Dlodlo's justified role in the solo cast is made easier by her rich curriculum vitae in the area of the arts. Among the drama series she has taken a part in is Leg
acies (2008-12) which first ran on ZBC-TV and was later screened on Zambia National Broadcasting Cor
poration and Africa Magic. In it, she played the part of Mrs Foroma.
She also starred in the silver screen productions Pedyo Kure (written by Aaron ChiunduraMoyo), Dirty Necklace and Vhunze.
In the latter she is Rudaviro, the Chief's second wife.
As regards the box office, the versatile Dlodlo was part of the cast in the Munyaradzi Chidzongaled Lobola, The Zimbabwe I Know and a yet-to-see-light-of-day movie, The Hero.
Featuring renowned actors such as Hakim Kazim of Hotel
Rwanda fame and Jackie Appiah from Ghana, the focus of the latter film is the late Zimbabwean president, Robert Gabriel Mugabe.
But the veteran artiste is not new to theatre as well, having participated at HIFA in 365, a genderbased violence play penned by Stephen Chifunyise.
She was part of the Sinners The
atre (Mitambo International Theatre Festival) which went on tour of countries that included Malawi; and Coming Home written by Dr Guramatunhu and recently she wrote Zoom which she acted with her daughter and was streamed online.
Meanwhile, Dlodlo has paid tribute to her fellow actress at Stu
dio 263, Anne Nhira, who recently passed on after an attack by thugs in South Africa.
"We've been robbed of a young and vibrant talent in Vimbai (her stage name in Studio 263). To me she was a sister and a friend...l'm still in shock. Anne was an amazing character and a beautiful soul so full of life.
"She also came across as an optimist for a brighter future in the arts industry and contributed a lot even after Studio 263. Life ultimately comes to an end, but her demise is so sad. MHSRIP."