MULTIPLE award-winning ensemble Elysium Magna, which returned to Theatre in the Park in Harare from November 13 to 15 with BROKEN: The Last of My Kind, was well received and fans called for its upgrade to a film or television series.
Central to BROKEN: The Last of My Kind is its fusion of choreography, music, drama and spoken word.
The play distinguished itself with a rare theatrical device: three different endings presented over three consecutive nights, each underscoring the company’s firm stance on zero tolerance to gender-based violence and the everyday contexts of harassment, toxic cultural habits, and communal insensitivity.
Director Hillary Indi described the work as the result of rigorous creative commitment, noting that the team’s dynamic performance reflects its deep investment in telling stories that resonate with contemporary social realities.
During a post-performance discussion, theatre veterans Peter Churu and Daves Guzha commended the production for holding up a mirror to society and encouraging communities to reflect on gender responsibility.
They observed that the play’s structure, emotional texture and audience engagement created space for introspection and a renewed collective commitment to ending domestic violence and emotional abuse.
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Accordingly, this aligned with Elysium Magna’s broader mission of amplifying Zimbabwean cultural narratives while positioning local artistry on the global stage.
Through collaborations with regional and international partners, the company continues to elevate Zimbabwean performing arts, with tours across Africa and Europe demonstrating both cultural pride and artistic excellence.
BROKEN: The Last of My Kind examines resilience in intimate relationships and provoked the audience to revisit the Shona adage “Shinga ndozvinoita imba”, to mean “Be strong, that’s what happens in marriage”.
BROKEN: The Last of My Kind was written and directed by Indi and featured a skilled cast that include Kevin Madziyanike, Jermain Masara, Pride Zimbudzana, Charles Tembo and Stacey Dombodzuku.
Indi described the production as a fitting artistic gift for year-end festivities, blending humour and satire with solemn themes to ease the emotional weight often felt during the holiday period.
At its core, BROKEN: The Last of My Kind portrays the harrowing experience of a woman trapped in an emotionally abusive marriage.
Set over the course of a single day, the narrative follows the woman’s psychological collapse as she confronts her husband’s infidelity, manipulation and cruelty.
The home, once a sanctuary, becomes a prison where years of unspoken anguish intensify.
A climactic confrontation forces long-buried pain to the surface as she voices the devastation of betrayal and the erosion of her self-worth.
Although the character contemplates poisoning herself, her ultimate decision to reject self-destruction becomes a powerful symbol of resilience and the possibility of healing.
Visual arts lecturer and korfball player Roseline Kumvekera Mukwewa, who had her two daughters in the Elysium dance extras, emphasised the importance of corporate sponsorship on costuming, cosmetology, lights and sound to add more glamour to the act.