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Mhlanga's play to be shown in America
Torby Chimhashu, NewZimbabwe.com
June 24, 2007

http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/arts14.16582.html

CONT Mhlanga, the Amakhosi Theatre Productions director, does not give up easily. In fact, his pencil slim frame belies the heart that he has when intent on expressing himself.

Just a week after seeing his explosive production - The Good President - fail to premiere in his home city, Bulawayo, Mhlanga has struck gold in the United States.

The Tsholotsho-raised artiste takes his theatre skills to California where he is expected to star and direct his play - Members - which is set to be packaged for American television audience.

Mhlanga leaves next weekend for the California summer school where he will learn more on political theatre as well as directing Members.

The summer arts school is an event held in various cities every three years in the California province. It runs from July 1 to July 13.

Mhlanga said: "We are happy to be talking part in this programme. I believe Amakhosi stands to benefit more especially on political theatre. Against a background of successes recorded by our previous productions, Members will be adapted for American television audience.

"I will be the producer and director of Members. Two members from the original cast -- Thembi Ngwabi and Mandla Moyo -- are traveling with me on this tour."

Members was produced 14 years ago by Mhlanga and received much acclaim for its pursuit of democracy depicted by village politicians who demonstrated that the power lay with villagers not their rulers.

The members go a step further by graciously refusing to be re-elected during elections arguing that power is for the people and the people have a choice to field new candidates - again villagers.

Against this background of rave views, Members will be produced for TV, and this time will feature four Americans, the two Zimbabweans and 20 students drawn from around the US.

Mhlanga said the first shoot would be shown live and the second one as a delayed programme.

During the same tour, Ngwabi will showcase her own skills when she performs in the play The Chosen One, slated for the July 14.

Moyo, on the other hand, will leave California for a Swedish tour with Rooftop Promotions where he will be part of the Super Patriots and Morons cast.

Said Mhlanga: "When we return to Zimbabwe the first thing would be to show The Good President to the people of Matabeleland. There is not going to be any changes from the play.

"I cannot alter the truth. What The Good President says, is what would be shown in Bulawayo. Police want us to give them the script and that is not acceptable.

"This tour gives us time and energy to prepare for the battles that lie ahead. We believe that the decisions by the courts should not stop us from showing our play, especially when one considers that the police and the High Court are the Censorship Board.

"So, from mid September, The Good President will be running. We will take it to Harare before going on regional tours of Botswana and South Africa," Mhlanga said.

Last week, heavily armed police stormed a Bulawayo arts theatre and stopped the showing of The Good President.

An expectant crowd that had paid to watch the play was forcibly removed from the venue.

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