Othello: Week Two

So here we are.  Managed to grab an hour to myself away from the Big Othello House for a shot span of time.  It feels great!  We’re halfway through the second week of the project and have been joined by Juan and Harold who are our musical director and choreographer respectively.  The original core group who were part of the original Bulawayo version of The Gospel of Othello have been joined by a variety of Harare-based performers including musicians and actors.  Things are progressing really well but it’s definitely intensive and demanding.  The combination of simultaneously working on the dance and movement, music and text components of the show is both stimulating and exhausting.  In snatched moments of free-time it’s hard to know what to begin going over and working on myself.  And I’m a little sleep-deprived…! The five girls are sharing a room which makes for an intense communal lifestyle! But all in all it’s really good and there’s some interesting ideas and work emerging.  

For me personally, I am at the stage of needing to somehow learn lines and work on the character of Desdemonda in various ways.  I also need to learn a whole bunch of music – most in languages other than English (and I’m not very good with languages!!) as well as dance routines and chorus work.  I have an interesting relationship with dancing.  While I love it, I don’t think I am particularly good at it (it’s definitely a myth that all girl’s can dance well!) and I’m finding, as I guess I did expect to, that there are many things that are culturally specific and what’s normal or default to one person is actually so different to others from another background.  It’s already emerged in terms of dance – what’s natural in terms of beat and body to everyone else isn’t necessarily to me – and I’m sure it’s also evident in other areas too.  But that’s the beauty of what we’re involved in and for me it’s part of the reason I wanted to be involved in this project.  I didn’t expect it to be easy.  But I did expect it to be stretching and stimulating and that’s certainly what is emerging.   

This about sums up our relative waltzing prowess...my Othello & I have a lot of work to do!!

Othello Week One

Haven't managed to blog properly about the project I'm currently working on so here's a brief update  I’m in the middle of a really exciting and absorbing that is being put together and will showcase at at HIFA (Harare International Festival of the Arts) in a few weeks time.  Sponsored by the British Council, I participated in an intensive 2 week project in Bulawayo in September which led to a performance of Othello at the National Art Gallery.  On those foundations, a company has come together and in Harare, through a process of workshops in schools/universities/community groups and rehearsals, we’re developing a full-scale professional production.

What’s unique about this project is the underlying ethos.  The concept is the brainchild of Patrice Naiambana, as a truly pan-African production which has a diaspora dimension to it.  Patrice himself is from Sierra Leone, but currently based in the UK, the choreographer Harold George is based in Belgium and also from Sierra Leone, while the Musical director Juwon Ogungbe is originally from Nigeria, but living in London. 

The underlying mission is to deepen understanding of cultureprenuership - and the functional dimension of African Theatre - through a creative process of 'Hothausing' which offer participants experience in many areas including performing and production management. 

 It's a dream job for me, working with high calibre Director, Choreographer & Musical Director.  I couldn't ask for a more ideal scenario in which to realise my ambition to perform (theatre) at HIFA.  The whole ethos of an 100% collaborative, physical theatre piece, building on something Bulawayo (and London) birthed, that I've already journeyed with - it's perfect! It’s also very intense.  6 day weeks, long hours, working (and living) together in a different city as a company.  Not to mention the physical demands of devising a highly physical, interactive performance.  I know I'm up for the challenge and the chance to demonstrate something creatively organic, vibrant and diverse.

Mosiac Film Project

Last year I was contacted by someone working at Tearfund about a film project they're involved in.  The idea of the project is to give snapshots of some of the stories of transformation that are taking place around the globe.  Often at grassroots level and not always screaming to be noticed, nevertheless each story is amazing.  Moreover, each plays a part in a far larger story...the universal story of transformation: hope and light and love in action.

We chatted about what I'm involved with in Zim and the way that in many ways it's a role that concerns stories.  Just being where the stories are and looking for them and hearing them and perhaps in time being a small part of the relaying and telling of them.  That's been a big part of my journey over the last 3 years.

After talking, Jenny Flannagan came to visit in May 2010.  During a whistlestop weekend I introduced her to some of the people I know in Zimbabwe whose stories I know something of.  So we shared stories together for a bit and some of them made it into the film project.  

The Mosaic project is inspiring as a whole and as a resource, so I'd recommend all the short films available on the link above.  If you're particularly interested in seeing some of the guys from Zimbabwe, then especially check out the film Sparks which includes stories and footage of some of my friends who we visited and also Citizens.   

For more information about the Mosaic Film Project follow this link.  Here's the trailer for the project.

New Update Newsletter & Mailing List

Following my New Year's resolution to become better at updating people on my life in Zimbabwe, I'm starting a newsletter to give updates on what's happening and what I'm up to. 

I'll be honest, I'm not normally a big 'newsletter' type (never quite sure who I'm writing for, or what I'm meant to say!) BUT, I'm going to make an effort! 

If you're interested in being on the mailing list, please sign up using the 'Subscribe' button to the right...

(PS: I also aim to be a bit more frequent with the blogging...!)

Siyaya Gets Around!

Very surreal (but wonderful) to walk along Brook Street in London at 8pm last night and hear the feelgood strains of music associated with Makokoba, Bulawayo (and no, it wasn't simply I had my ipod on!) Siyaya again prove how world-class they are by delivering brilliant entertainment during a glamorous benefit dinner at Claridges in London in aid of Zimbabwe.  They definitely warmed up a chilly February night in London with some warm Zimbabwean vibes! 

It was surreal to travel the next day in a packed rush-hour tube surrounded on all sides by people reading The Evening Standard with this in it.  Wonder at the response had I told them the night before these 3 crashed on my bedroom floor for the night...!?!! 

Photo in The Times yesterday

Zambezi Express

A selection of stills from the production Zambezi Express taken at the Bulawayo Theatre during a two week run of the show, March 2010.  Due to popular demand the show returned for a second run in June 2010. 

Photographs by Maciek Malicki

The story of Zambezi Express and of its' run at the Bulawayo Theatre in 2010 is a favourite of my time in Zimbabwe so far.  I first met Siyaya, (the company behind Zambezi) and director Mambazo Saimon Phiri in 2008 and was struck by their ambitious ideas, entrepreneurial spirit and can-do attitude.  I liked their desire to remain true to their Makokoba roots too (Makokoba's the oldest township of Bulawayo' eastern suburbs.)  When later that year a friend wanted a Zimbabwean arts group to perform at a festival  in France I had no hesitation in recommending Siyaya.  Over the last three years we've established good working relations and friendships, partnering on several occasions. 

Around that time Siyaya started work on this ambitious new project: an all-singing, all-dancing, locally-inspired concept to tie in with the forthcoming world cup.  I saw some of the initial rehearsals where already the high-energy, positive and feelgood vibe that characterises Zambezi Express was evident.  Then I was also at the 'send-off' event in Makokoba before the company left for the UK to finish work on and debut the show in the UK.

In 2009 the Bulawayo Theatre asked if I knew any fully-fledged productions for their main stage and I told them about Zambezi and sang its' praises and then mentioned it to Siyaya as an idea. I seem to remember initially neither side was 100% convinced, perhaps uncertain of whether the combination of venue and audience would work.  However, after discussion both decided to give it a go and partnered to bring Zambezi Express to the Bulawayo stage.  

What happened next really was exciting.  The show opened with an explosion of life and as each performance finished and the audience left, it was a time-bomb scenario as they raved about what they had just experienced and before long word of mouth spread.  Tickets were snapped up and some people came again and again, returning with their whole families, neighbours and friends!  The shows sold out and we packed as many as possible into the theatre.  Extra shows were scheduled in addition to the matinees that were already on the publicity.  The performers were doing several hours of high-energy routines and demanding moves.  Not once did I see any reduction in zeal or effort from them, even though they must have been exhausted! Even once all shows were sold out and a waiting list opened, hopefuls still arrived each night in case they might somehow be squeezed in at the last minute.

All of a sudden everyone was talking about the show, positive and impressed.  I lost count of how often people mistook it for some international company passing through Zimbabwe on tour.  When I explained that the company had been based for the last 20 years or so +/- 10 mins drive from the theatre they were amazed.  I love being able to educate others on the talent that is inherent in Bulawayo and on the benefit of looking beyond your immediate circle to see what's out there.

Financial Giving

It has been brought to my notice (in subtle and less subtle ways!) that the cost of living is still rising in Zimbabwe, even without hyper-inflation.  It took me a while to notice, but having looked into it and analysed my own finances, I realise that what used to be sufficient to live on now isn't quite so any more.
As a free-lance operator, I'm completely self-funded and living the daily adventure of this!  I don't want to overly dwell on it, but, then again I do need to raise some extra resources at the moment. 
Should anyone be interested in supporting the type of work/life/stuff I do, and wishes to help me in this, I am fully registered with Stewardship meaning that any donation made can benefit from Gift-Aid (providing the giver is a UK taxpayer).  Obviously, this is great news as each donation goes that bit further.  Have a think (and perhaps a pray) about whether this is something you're interested in, either as an impromptu one-off, or as a regular standing order... :-)


No pressure, but if you do want to then the link to setting it up online is here!


Also for the record to everyone who does support me - in various ways, including financial - I am eternally grateful and love you very much. Thank you & bless you!