Bulawayo-based Bambatha Actors’ Centre is working on a new play based on the classic Zulu novel, Inkinsela Yase Mgungundlovu.
The novel was written by the late Sibusiso Nyembezi. It has been a high school language set book for many years.
It has since been translated into English with the title The Rich Man From Pietermaritzburg. Bambatha Actors’ Centre acting coach and director Styx Mhlanga told NewsDay yesterday that former students at the training centre would comprise the cast. He said they would take the play to high schools which would help students better understand the issues explored in the classic novel . “The main purpose of this project is to use theatre as a tool of education and offer a post-performance platform for students studying the book to discuss it with teachers and actors,” said Mhlanga.
He said the play would premiere at Amakhosi Cultural Centre in September.
Mhlanga said rehearsals were already underway. “We would like to beef up our cast and create an exciting production,” he said. “After the premiere, we will embark on a tour of boarding schools”. Bambatha Actors’ Centre students have also completed recording a radio drama for ZBC entitled Hawu Bafana written by veteran novelist Naison Thwala.
“What is theatre, film or radio drama without great acting?” said Mhlanga. “It is our hope at Bambatha Actors’ Centre that in future every interesting acting project in the city would have someone who went through our training programme.”
Bambatha Actors’ Centre have a number of previous productions that include Stitsha, Nyaminyami, It Never Rains and Moja, among many others.
