THEATRE enthusiasts are in for a treat from today until Saturday as the one-man play, An Act of Man by Zenzo Nyathi is staged from 1800hrs daily at Harare’s Theatre In The Park.
The electrifying play directed by award-winning Memory Kumbota opens Theatre In The Park’s new season.
Before coming to the capital, An Act of Man was premiered in Bulawayo at the Intwasa Festival of Arts in September and last week it was staged at the Nyanga Arts Festival.
The play adventurously interrogates the role traditional knowledge systems and science play in a fast-changing world and in climate change intervention.
In the play, Nyathi plays the role of a rain diviner who is forced not only to look past traditions, but also the future to come to terms with his personal misfortunes and the natural disasters — droughts and floods.
Nyathi, a graduate of Amakhosi Performing Arts based in Bulawayo, a performer, director and writer tells the story through a zestful mix of storytelling, mime, dance and song.
“We are ready to take the play to Harare for the first time at Theatre In The Park. From Nyanga and Bulawayo, the audience that turned out to watch the play has been relatively good, the play has been well received,” Kumbota noted.
In his career that spans more than two decades, Nyathi the managing director and founder of the Bulawayo-based Ingxoxo Arts, has featured in more than 1 000 performances.
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He has also directed Climate Smart Agriculture Theatre for Policy Advocacy pieces at both national and regional levels.
In a statement, Rooftop Promotions programmes director Passmore Ndlovu said they were more than ready to host the play.
“What is exciting is that the play, An Act of Man, discusses climate change, a subject which is rarely, if not never, talked about by ordinary members of the community.” Ndlovu urged all climate change players, institutions and individuals including members of the media to participate.
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