The Father set to be staged in Byo

Standard People
A play titled The Father, will be staged at Small City Hall in Bulawayo on November 16 and 17.

A play titled The Father, will be staged at Small City Hall in Bulawayo on November 16 and 17.

Report by Tinashe Sibanda

The play that was written by a literature giant, August Strindberg, will be showcased, courtesy of Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo and The Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust.

It was produced by Global Arts Trust in conjunction with Complete Arts Project.

The play will be staged as part of the centenary celebrations of the works of Strindberg, who was popularly known as the Shakespeare of Sweden.

“Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo is excited to host The Father as one of a few post-festival performances scheduled to take place before the year ends. The Father is a universal story that will resonate with many Zimbabweans,” said Intwasa Festival director, Raisedon Baya.

The Strindberg centenary celebrations are not the first activities in which the Swedish government has supported Zimbabwean arts and culture. There has always been a link between Sweden and Zimbabwe.

The play is a story that asks pertinent questions about fatherhood. Questions brought out in the play include: Who is the father of the child? Can any man declare with absolute certainty that he is the father of his children? Does the mother have the last say on a child’s paternity?

“It is a frightening debate from the father of modern theatre on the issue many couples would rather not discuss for fear of confronting hidden dark family secrets in the war of the sexes. The issues covered in the play deal with the centrality of a woman’s position in a world dominated by men,” said Baya.

Peter Churu directs the play that features the talents of Tinashe Chirisa, Nothando Nobengula, Tafadzwa Bob Mutumbi, Charmaine Picardo, Samantha Ndlovu, Gideon Joseph Wabvuta and Eddington Hatitongwe.

“The issues covered are real and relevant to any man or family in any culture and any part of the world,” said Baya.

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