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Blantyre hosts ‘Sizwe Bansi is Dead’ tomorrow

Blantyre theatre enthusiasts will tomorrow evening converge at HS Winehouse in the city’s Namiwawa suburb for a drama feast as the upmarket social joint hosts a performance of South African playwright Athol Fugard’s classic play.

The play—Sizwe Bansi is Dead, authored and first staged during the apartheid era—will this time around be staged as a collabo by Mzuzu University Theatre Arts Group (Mutag) and Lions Theatre.
In an interview, Mutag patron Misheck Mzumara, who is also drama lecturer at the university, said Fugard’s play is still as relevant today as it was during apartheid; hence, it is justifiable to stage it.

Mzumara (L) and Chisiza during an earlier performance of the play

He said issues of oppression of the weak, around which Sizwe Bansi is Dead revolves, are very much taking place in today’s world, including Malawi, and that the weak tend to adapt through actions that may even be disastrous to the world.

“This oppression may leave out a rich human resource, which could bring about development. It is a play from which Malawians could draw lessons from,” Mzumara said.
He added: “Fans should expect to enjoy every moment of the performance and appreciate the huge talent that exists in the country through observing how two people can creatively tell a story together for one hour and 20 minutes.”

The play’s Blantyre tour has been sponsored by HS Winehouse whose owner, Wilkins Mijiga, said in an interview that arts and culture are icons of sophistication and discernment, hence a natural best fit for people who patronise the entertainment joint.

He said HS Winehouse’s unique selling proposition is that it is a special upmarket meeting place for the sophisticated and discerning fun seekers looking for a polished and exclusive hangout for a mature and relaxed outing.

“Sizwe Bansi is Dead is a very intelligently engaging, captivating and sophisticated yet exciting play which I believe can satisfy the enlightened and progressive thinkers of our society,” said Mijiga.

Apart from Mzumara, the production also stars Lions Theatre’s Thlupego Chisiza while Mphundu Mjumira is re-working on the music in the play. 

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