By Sesedzai Mavedzenge
Theatre in the Park has been the go to venue for the best theatrical shows in Harare this year.
After hosting the hilarious Robert Mugabe coup play, “Operation Restore Legacy” for three sold out weeks, earlier in the year the momentum gained has not been matched by any other theatre.
Recently, the venue hosted the riveting Gukurahundi production, “1983, The Dark Years” and again audiences were wowed.
Now as we say goodbye to winter and embrace summer, Theatre in the Park presents yet another dazzling production, a musical all the way from Bulawayo, “Blood Tongue”.
The stirring play produced by Nhimbe Trust in November 2017 with performances at Bulawayo Theatre, Charles Austin Theatre (Masvingo) and the Artists Preserving Heritage Festival at Emalahleni Civic Theatre, Mpumalanga, South Africa.
Blood Tongue – The Musical, as originally produced, explored leadership accountability, the manipulative excesses of the political elite, and the struggles faced by strong-willed women in present day Zimbabwe.
Blood Tongue – The Musical is coming to Theatre in The Park refreshingly breathtaking. The 2018 edition reflect and strengthen the get out the vote message while the fourteen musical pieces that make up the score of the original musical have sufficient relevance and emotional strength to remain unchanged.
The refreshed Blood Tongue not only aims to encourage citizens to exercise their constitutional right to cast a vote for their candidate of choice, but to exercise this right with a conscience, and, with a conscience to consider how they might hold their elected officials accountable in fulfilling their mandate to serve them.
Further, the musical aims to foster audience engagement and facilitate community dialogue on leadership and election processes thereby building capacity for independent critical thinking.
Blood Tongue – The Musical is a play by the award-winning Zimbabwean playwright and author, Christopher Mlalazi, directed by Bafana Dladla (SA) and Eunice Tava, Music Composed by Bafana Dladla and Tshepo Pheko (SA), music arranged by Blessing Sitotombe, and scripted edited and produced by Josh Nyapimbi. Musa Sibanda plays the lead role, and other members of the cast include Bulawayo actresses Lady Tshawe, Ria Moyo and Agnes Ncube; backed by a five-member band. Blood Tongue – 2018 Get Out the Vote Tour is made possible by the Bluez Café, Dr. Winterbottom Charitable Fund, Africalia and Rooftop Promotions.
