Enough of the drama theories, it is time to get practical. That seems to be the buzz from fourth year drama class at Chancellor College’s department of fine and performing arts.
The return of the drama scholars on the competitive stage would be championed by a performance of Didimu’s Dream to take place at Nanzikambe Arts Café today.
Didimu’s Dream
is a piece that is based on the true story of Legson Kayira’s novel I Will Try.
“As part of the their acting course, the Chancellor College fourth year acting class took a Malawian text and decided to work with it to create a theatrical piece that brings the inspiring story of Legson Kayira’s determination, faith, and success to the stage.
“Most importantly, it was decided that the fourth year drama students to take Didimu’s Dream outside Chanco as an extension of some the students’ practical component of some of the courses they undertake , for instance, acting, theatre as business and directing,” said Zidaba Chisiza, a lecture in drama at the college, who also directed the play.
According to Chisiza, the Nanzikambe venue would allow the students to ascertain the relevance of what they are learning to the theatre industry in Malawi and beyond, in terms of form, aesthetics and content.
“At the same time it is a practical field visit that will help observing and experiencing how a professional theatre works in terms of booking, ticketing, paying audience and everything that goes into a professional theatrical production,” Chisiza said.
Didimu’s Dream
was first performed at Chancellor College last month.
Legson Kayira’s autobiography, I Will Try, was on the New York Times bestseller list for 16 weeks after its publication in 1965.
