ZIMBABWEAN-AMERICAN dramatic arts collaborative organisation, Almasi will this Saturday stage an exhilarating reading experience of the play Tape, at Reps Theatre in Belgravia, Harare.
The afternoon-staged reading of the play written by Stephen Belber, an American playwright, will be directed by seasoned theatre practitioner Tadziyana David Bvumbe.
The play’s cast consists of Ngonidzashe Chikowore, Chelsy Maumbe, Aneunhu Gwatidzo and Charmaine Mujeri.
A staged reading is a form of theatre without sets or full costumes. The actors, who read from scripts, may be seated, standing in fixed positions, or incorporate minimal stage movement.
The writer of the play, Belber is not a stranger to Almasi’s exchange programmes; in 2015 and 2023 he was in the country facilitating the Almasi African Playwrights Conference.
The staged reading of Tape is part of Almasi’s staged reading series, an initiative aimed at advancing dramatic literacy in the community, a crucial component of playmaking needed in Zimbabwean dramatic arts development.
The play deals with issues around rape and sexual assault, memory and perceptions.
The synopsis of the play follows the unpredictable love-hate chemistry between friends. John, an aspiring filmmaker whose fortunes are about to twist for the better, is joined for the weekend by his longtime friend from high school Vince.
Over the course of the evening, Vince gets John to admit that he was involved in the gruesome act of date-raping Amy, a girl whom they both once dated. Within the heat of this confession, Vince shockingly reveals that he has taped the entire conversation.
Matters turn for the worst when Vince says he has invited Amy over to have dinner with them that night, leaving Vince in great suspense.
Tape examines the pillars of motive, memory, truth and perception.
Bvumbe hopes the play will be able to spark discussions around sensitive social ills during audience engagement.
“I am excited to be directing Tape by Stephen Belber. It is such a topical play dealing with issues around rape and sexual assault, memory and perceptions. The play borders on everyday lived realities where involvement in acts of sexual abuse places one in a perpetual mental prison,” said Bvumbe.
“The play also interrogates the depths of what we embrace as friendship, how trustworthy is this social tie when it comes to a place where (one) has to choose between what is right and what is wrong even in an associate and will its motive be pure.”
Bvumbe added: “We have a tough job of peeling back the layers of each character until we reach the core of who they are, but I have a talented cast which will undoubtedly rise to the challenge.”
Almasi’s associate artistic director Elizabeth Zaza Muchemwa said: “The forthcoming staged reading is an experience one can look forward to and it remains for the bulk of Zimbabwe’s dramatic arts lovers to come and see what they can discover.
“Almasi’s goal is to facilitate excellent new Zimbabwean works that can compete at a global level and leave behind a Zimbabwean dramatic literature legacy. Staged readings also nurture dramaturgy which allows for the portrayal to be rich, resonant and specific to the placement of the play in time, space and moment in history.”
