Nkhonjera ventures into stage drama
Fresh from directing his first movie B’ella, artist Taonga Taddja Nkhonjera is at it again. This time, he is writing a stage play.
Scheduled to be launched on February 1, rehearsals for the new play A Tragedy start soon according to Nkhonjera.
“It focuses on newly-weds whose love is challenged by infertility. The play shows raw human emotions, analyses the rationale of men and tries to understand the psyche of women. It takes people time in the play to realise who is incapable of having children in the family. I have only one more scene to complete which will be done before December month-end,” said Nkhonjera.
With a lot happening in the country and politics mostly taking centre stage of Malawian stage plays, one may wonder what the writer’s inspiration is.
“I have learnt the importance of being able to have children, and also the effect of not being able to. I have also learnt of the suffering women endure at the hands of their husbands. Nothing like what happens in the play ever occurred, but a close relative of mine died without ever having children of her own,” he explained.
Having previously dwelt on comedies, satires, historical, political plays and parodies, the play will be Nkhonjera’s first attempt at the tragedy genre.
He said: “I am excited about my new role. And this is coming straight after I directed a film, so I want to experiment with borrowing from screen nuances but staying true to theatre. Also, I want the acting to touch instantly, as such I will need a female co-director so that everything is authentic.”
The play is set to have a cast of about 10 actors.
