http://www.theafricareport.com/index.php/20120326501808012/society-and-culture/revolution-hits-zimbabwe-s-theatres-501808012.html
Posted on Wednesday, 28 March 2012 17:16
Revolution hits Zimbabwe's theatres
By Janet Shoko
Playwrights and actors in Zimbabwe are slowly stirring up a revolution of some sort, as theatre rosters are packed with protest plays aimed at the establishment.
The plays are being premiered before sold out audiences mostly in the capital, Harare, with Theatre in the Park being one of the few remaining outposts of free speech.
The plays, including February 32 Movement, Protests Revolutionaries - which premiered on March 13 and ends on March 31, Changing of the Guard and The Coup, come after six activists were charged for allegedly showing recordings of the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia in the hope that these could inspire similar demonstrations in Zimbabwe.
Playwrights and directors speak of being inspired by political uprisings in North Africa last year to voice out through arts. The Coup depicts corpses rising in a stinky mortuary to stage a bloody coup. They march to an imaginary presidential palace to gun down the head of state. However, the soul of the slain head of state attempts to bribe its way into heaven but fails and is sent straight to hell.
Stanley Makuwe, who wrote The Coup, conceived the idea during his training as a nurse. "In one of my visits to the mortuary to dump another body, something gripped my imagination. I said if those bodies could speak what would they say? Who would they hold responsible for their death and what action would they collectively take?"
Realising a much safe gateway to voice out frustration, media activists are joining in. One such is Takura Zhangazha, who penned Changing of the Guard. He calls his work "frustration theatre".
"Protest is no longer aimed at Zanu PF but to a broader section. Even though it is still embedded in political persuasions, it has reached a stage of frustration," Zhangazha said.
Protest Revolutionaries director, Silvanos Mudzowa says the play shows that citizen participation in national issues is vital in bringing about change. "It is possible as a people to use such avenues (protests) to voice out our opinions on the state of affairs in the country. We can do so peacefully as long as we will be able to address issues," he said.
He adds that the play was written to "provoke people into action."
In the play, the toy toying (a protest dance), placard carrying and slogan chanting protestors gather at Africa Unity Square in central Harare, to protest against the government and its leader, whom they accuse of running down the country.
Millions from all walks of life gather at the square, which have they renamed as the "Revolutionary Square". It is a stark reminder of when The Green Square in Libya under Gaddafi, changed to The Martyr's Square as the self named "Libyan Guide's" regime neared its end.
But the police soon arrive at the "Revolutionary Square" and quash the protest leaving three of the protestors dead. However, the masses who have gathered at the square remain unfazed as they continue with their protest. Overwhelmed by the resolute protestors some of the senior police officers join the protests, much to the chagrin of their superiors.
The army is then called in to manage the situation which they do, with brutal force. The status quo unleashes its propaganda machinery in a bid to control the situation which is getting out of hand. The government, through the minister of information even tries to bribe the protest leaders who refuse to take the offer.
Eventually, the president flees like former Tunisian President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali and surrenders to a new breed of leaders.
See link: http://www.theafricareport.com/index.php/20120326501808012/society-and-culture/revolution-hits-zimbabwe-s-theatres-501808012.html
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