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| African Macbeth returns to stage |
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by
Chisomo Kachapila, 14 May 2004
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13:43:28
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Following it’s recent performances at the Harare International Festival of the Arts (Hifa) in Zimbabwe, Nanzikambe returns to French Cultural Centre (FCC) in Blantyre on Sunday afternoon to give theatre lovers who missed the last show an opportunity to see African Macbeth before it is put to rest.
With its political dictatorship theme, African Macbeth, stole the hearts of Zimbabweans — like it did to Malawians — during the festivals because of its semblance to the political situation in the country in which President Robert Mugabe is accused of clinging to power and plunging the nation into an economic crisis.
“Everyone was talking about how marvellous the Malawian productions were at the festivals,” said Kate Stafford, artistic director of Nanzikambe.
Samuel Kuseka, who plays Macbeth, the dictator added: “We really put up a grand show and had it been that the HIFA was giving out prizes, we could have scooped first position”.
The actors, however, dispelled rumours that Nanzikambe director, Stafford, a Briton, paid them less allowances than they agreed earlier on.
“Of course, there were some hitches here and there but we solved them,” said one of the actors Wongani Munthali who did not disclosed the hitches but quashed the rumours that they were paid K2,500 instead of the K7,500 daily allowance.
Nanzikambe, took African Macbeth and another play Eating to Live (scheduled for release in September) to the HIFA with funding from the British Council.
Before going to Zimbabwe, Nanzikambe toured the country with its masterpiece African Macbeth which left the audience wanting for more. In case of Blantyre, a lot of people missed it as the venue, FCC, was fully packed.
The play features a modern-day African dictator who is fighting a war against urban guerillas. The play created in an election year is an explosive mixture of witchcraft, civil war and political ambition.
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