Ten thespians on Saturday night sparked an almost full audience in the theatre with their display of the old, best times of cultural richness, the arts, and the trials and tribulations in the arts sector.
This was highlighted by the Umthombo Arts Production in the show The Grand Taimaz, written and produced by Thulani Mbambo, directed by Styx Mhlanga (pictured), with the set designed by Sipho Khamanga, at the Bulawayo theatre.
Mhlanga said they planned to produce a play that is not protest theatre, avoiding our poverty and dismay.
“The writer shared his vision for a play that he wanted me to direct despite the fact that I have been away from the Bulawayo theatre scene for almost 14 years,” he said.
“He wanted us to produce a play that is not protest theatre, a play that is not sad, and does not show our poverty and dismay.
“He wanted us to highlight some of the best times in the past as people, drawing from our cultural richness.”
Mhlanga said the show was about the arts, the trials and tribulations of artists in the sector, while distributing the old but very proud men and women.
The audience was noted for singing along to the theme song of the show, which put a smile on Mhlanga’s face.
“That is the dream of every performer to see such a response from an audience,” Mhlanga said.
“Critics may criticise a performance, but if an audience responds favourably to the show, who cares about the critics? An audience is king in the game.”
Mhlanga said audiences wereone of the four elements of theatre, and human beings respond to truth.
“As long as that’s the case, theatre will always have an audience,” he said.
“If it does not act like a prostitute that promises pleasure but fails to provide that promised pleasure, it will always have a good audience.”
The play featured Josphat Ndlovu, Julian Tshuma, Richard Masuku, Memory Muzondo, Sandra Nyamukonda, Nicole Ncube, Alexander Sibanda, Bob Dlamini, and Mercy Moyo.
Mhlanga, founder and coaching director of the Bambatha Actors’ Centre, has created a number of productions, including Stitsha, Nyaminyami, It Never Rains, and Moja, among many others.