Two years after their highly-hyped debut production Bwabwalala, Waz Arts Theatre has returned with Rev Bolamoyo set for premiere at Golden Peacock Hotel in Lilongwe this Saturday.
It is another political satire production which has focused on Malawi’s current political landscape. The play has been written by journalist-cum-actor Suzgo Chitete and directed by seasoned actor Jeremiah Mwaungulu.
Rev Bolamoyo centres on a family in need of a child, but its pursuit ends in chaos. The once peaceful home turns into an abode of endless drama.
“This drama may have multiple meanings, but we are not drawing a conclusion. Instead, we want to allow the audience to reflect on the message and make their own interpretations,” said Mwaungulu in an interview yesterday.
Commenting on the slanting of the production, he said a lot is happening in the country and they look at the play as a platform to share critical message about the country’s political developments.
Said Mwaungulu: “As artists, we are duty-bound to provide a commentary. Art is activism and we cannot keep quite amid so many things happening.”
He played down any inferences on the play’s title to Bagamoyo, a Tanzanian coastal town said to have given slaves little hope of survival during the slavery days.
Bagamoyo became popular after Catholic bishops, in their pastoral letter earlier this year, said Malawi had missed the route to ‘the promised land’ of Canaan and was stuck in this town.
“That is the interpretation we have seen on the social media, but the title has nothing to do with Bagamoyo as is suggested. This is just the name of one of the characters in the play. I know people will draw a lot of parallels that we cannot control,” he said.
Production manager Anthony Masamba said their silence since their debut production should not be construed as inactivity.
He said theatre requires one to have a good reason to come up with a production, time to prepare and resources to support the production.
Said Masamba: “For us, this is political activism, giving a voice to others. We may have the message, but packaging it takes time.
“Lack of resources is also a hindrance. From experience, stage play production without sponsorship can really be a nightmare.”
From the original cast, which featured in Bwabwalala, five members are absent in the new production. Brenda Nselu and Dipo Katimba are absent after they relocated to the United States and so are Rogers Siula, Theodore Banda and MacDonald Sanga.
Starring in Rev Bolamoyo is Mwaungulu, Chitete, Blessings Suya, Mary Chilongo, Francis Chimalizeni and Jacqueline Ndhlovu.
Shafiq Kalumo is stage manager.
