R>Now titled The Devilish: Robert Mugabe, the play will be staged from November 9-25 at the Hillbrow Theatre in Johannesburg.
5.10.2007
0:00
Banned Zim play back with vengeance in SA
JOHANNESBURG:
Protest playwright, Tinashe Jonas, who penned the play said about 50 percent of the script had been changed since the play’s ban in Zimbabwe in line with the worsening of the country’s socio-economic crisis.
He said the play will go ahead despite possible intimidation by Zimbabwean security agents, as was the case in December last year when the show had to be postponed taking place at the Wits Amphitheatre.
“Artists such as myself have a key role to play in highlighting the problems that Zimbabwe faces as a result of misrule by the Mugabe regime despite widespread threats. I have a philosophy that inspires me to die for a reason that will live than live for a reason that will die,” said Jonas.
The University of Namibia trained dramatist said of the hard-hitting play’s synopsis, “The play highlights the social, economic and political meltdown that has besieged Zimbabwe. It also reveals how Mugabe is Adolf Hitler tenfold because of gross human rights abuses. The Devilish: Robert Mugabe highlights how single-handedly a dictator can ruin a once-prosperous economy,” he slammed.
The play boasts an all-South African cast of ten.
The move flies in the face of denials by South Africa that there was a crisis at its northern neighbour, Jonas said.
Looking forward to the play, stage actress Evril Mmakola said from his interaction with Zimbabweans, she had established that there was indeed a crisis in Zimbabwe and that it was not only an exaggeration by the media.
“From what I hear, things are bad there. If you were to ask me the solution, I would tell you it lies in the resignation of the country’s leader. Anyway, I am not into politics. As an actress I go out there and follow the script,” she said.
The play is among several that the paranoid Zimbabwean government has banned in the country under the pretext that they were likely to raise alarm and despondency among members of the public.
Jonas fled to South Africa after the outlawed play put his life in danger. Meanwhile, tickets for the play are going for R30 at the door and R38 at Computicket-CAJ News
Post published in: Uncategorized
Bob, a satirical play that the Zimbabwe government banned for hitting too closer to the truth has resurfaced with a vengeance in South Africa under a different title and now delivering more severe blows to where it hurts most on President Mugabe.
Protest playwright, Tinashe Jonas, who penned the play said about 50 percent of the script had been changed since the play’s ban in Zimbabwe in line with the worsening of the country’s socio-economic crisis.
He said the play will go ahead despite possible intimidation by Zimbabwean security agents, as was the case in December last year when the show had to be postponed taking place at the Wits Amphitheatre.
“Artists such as myself have a key role to play in highlighting the problems that Zimbabwe faces as a result of misrule by the Mugabe regime despite widespread threats. I have a philosophy that inspires me to die for a reason that will live than live for a reason that will die,” said Jonas.
The University of Namibia trained dramatist said of the hard-hitting play’s synopsis, “The play highlights the social, economic and political meltdown that has besieged Zimbabwe. It also reveals how Mugabe is Adolf Hitler tenfold because of gross human rights abuses. The Devilish: Robert Mugabe highlights how single-handedly a dictator can ruin a once-prosperous economy,” he slammed.
The play boasts an all-South African cast of ten.
The move flies in the face of denials by South Africa that there was a crisis at its northern neighbour, Jonas said.
Looking forward to the play, stage actress Evril Mmakola said from his interaction with Zimbabweans, she had established that there was indeed a crisis in Zimbabwe and that it was not only an exaggeration by the media.
She said the solution lied in the resignation of the current Zimbabwean leadership.
“From what I hear, things are bad there. If you were to ask me the solution, I would tell you it lies in the resignation of the country’s leader. Anyway, I am not into politics. As an actress I go out there and follow the script,” she said.
The play is among several that the paranoid Zimbabwean government has banned in the country under the pretext that they were likely to raise alarm and despondency among members of the public.
Jonas fled to South Africa after the outlawed play put his life in danger. Meanwhile, tickets for the play are going for R30 at the door and R38 at Computicket-CAJ News