ZIMBABWE has a large pool of talent in the arts and drama industry although most artistes find it difficult to sorely rely on that for a living, top Los Angeles theatre director James Carey has said.
BY VANISHA RAMJEE
The producer of Come Together –A Beatles Cabaret, which will be playing at Reps Theatre in Harare until July 18, however, said there was much room for growth in the industry.
“There is a very large talent pool in Zimbabwe and the people you work with are really dedicated. However, everyone is trying to make a living and so it’s a bit difficult to be an artist at the moment,” he said.
“To make a living, even this cast practice other forms of art and teaching aside from their acting careers and this is because of economic challenges.”
Come Together: a Beatles Cabaret had sold-out shows in the United States in 2011 and 2012.
He said he had enjoyed directing in the country and working with Reps Theatre had been good because it was run by people passionate about theatre.
“We rehearsed over three weeks, which is a smaller window than what I’m used to. It was a new experience for the cast, but they adapted well,” he said.
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The play comes with a rich, local cast including the popular actress Kudzi Sevenzo, renowned actor Alex Fairlie, Liza Maano and youthful Ane Unhu Gwatidzo.
Carey centres the play on the love story of two couples. The play starts with new love experiencing the honeymoon stage and takes the audience through the challenges of relationships. All this is portrayed through musical song.
From Zimbabwe, Carey will tour Cape Town and Europe, before returning to his teaching job in the US.
