Mr Pikirayi Deketeke
Bruce Ndlovu
A MEETING and cocktail between artistes and the chief executive officer of the Zimpapers group – Pikirayi Deketeke – will precede the debut of The Tellers musical tomorrow evening at the Bulawayo Theatre.
The meeting, organised by the Nhimbe Bluez Café, will be held at the National Art Gallery in Bulawayo, with opportunities for creative entrepreneurs in the city being the main agenda while the cocktail, where Deketeke will be the guest of honour, will be held at the Bulawayo Theatre.
The meeting between the Zimpapers CEO and creative entrepreneurs in the city will be particularly pertinent for those with an eye on the issues tackled in the play which will run every evening at 7PM up to Friday at the Bulawayo Theatre.
The Tellers is a Nhimbe Trust’s Women in Theatre and Television (WITT) musical that tells the story of eight women toiling at a supermarket that is struggling to stay in business due to the economic and financial woes gripping the nation in addition to rising competition from “illegal” vendors operating outside the premises of their place of work.
The women’s love lives, family issues, financial dire straits and religious beliefs are illustrated throughout the musical and intricately woven through music, dance and elements of poetry to tell a story not only filled with drama and despair but also hope and triumph.
The play brings together the crème de la crème of the local theatre scene both on and off stage. Penned by acclaimed playwright, Raisedon Baya, the play is directed by Memory Kumbota with experienced choreographer Richard Ndlovu in charge of the all important dance aspect of the play while Bafana Dladla of Gugothandayo fame will handle the music and score.
Over its 90 minute duration, the Simon Mambazo Phiri produced play will showcase some of the city’s brightest stage talents including among others Lady Tshawe, Donna Ncube, Memory Mguni, Loisianna Charumbira, Delicacy Ngulube, Sharlene Ndlovu and Angel Mpofu.
In addition to its premiere run in Bulawayo this week, WITT aims to embark on a girls High Schools Tour Circuit in Bulawayo showcasing The Tellers following its premiere.
The schools will include both public and private girls’ schools as well as girls boarding schools in surrounding districts. The objective is to create a unique WITT/ Status of Women Artists Action Plan (SOWAP) footprint in Girls High Schools, as a prelude to Nhimbe’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence 2016 Edition of performances under the “Nhimbe 16 days programme”.
A statement from Nhimbe Trust about the play described it as a must see show for not only the artistic excellence it promises, but for the mere fact that it showcases the story of the struggle and strength of women in the face of these trials and tribulations.
“The Tellers is the expression of the strength and optimism of modern day woman; an inspiring story of our strong women to be told again and again,” the statement read.