After their adventures with their play titled Mamuna Salira? The Musical in Blantyre, YDC Theatre sets out for another project titled Udolo Wanga.
The group’s director Fumbani Phiri said on Sunday at Jacaranda Cultural Centre (JCC) in Blantyre soon after the Mamuna Salira? The Musical performance that they will be bringing Udolo Wanga project, which is funded by Hivos.
“We will run this project for two years based on issues to do with sexual reproductive health rights advocacy. In it, we have Udolo Wanga Ghetto Youth Festival, Udolo Wanga Ghetto Cypher, Udolo Wanga album, school theatre advocacy, community theatre awareness and mobile theatre,” Phiri said.
He said as a youthful theatre group, they would want to use theatre or art in general to tackle issues affecting society.
Phiri also said having staged Mamuna Salira? The Musical in Blantyre, they would be taking it to Madsoc Theatre in Lilongwe.
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The play, written by Phiri, who also directed the production alongside Bright Chayachaya, explores the mental health of young men and men affected by traditional cultural norms, highlighting the struggles that they face in society that often expects them to be strong and unemotional.
Phiri said Mamuna Salira? The Musical stage play was the climax of their combo project which includes Mamuna Salira? and Extended Playlist which has six songs and Mamuma Salira? drama series which has five episodes.
He described Mamuna Salira? The Musical as a provoking production about masculine narrative in relation to mental health.
The play, that has a blend of drama, poetry and music, tells the story of three characters of Akim, Moze and Likasa.
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Akim is a 17-year-old young man who was defiled by a 30-year old woman, and the woman is pregnant. Akim turns to drugs as a result of the trauma.
Moze is a 28-year-old man who is mentally distressed after his wife abused him whereas Likasa is a 30-year-old teacher who has been wrongly accused of having sex with students for grades.
Veteran actor MacArthur Matukuta, who is also Solomonic Peacocks Director, hailed YDC for tackling the issue of mental health.
“I am impressed; the actors were on point. A few areas here and there to polish but overall it was good. I like the fact that they are tackling an issue that is on the ground now and that is what art needs to do,” Matukuta said.
The cast has names such as Kelvin Idana, Vannessa Malinda, George Mpakati, Andrew Office, Nicholus Thombozi, Deborah Butao, Evelyn Mapanga, Ellastas Msiska, Mineva Malizani and Hope Mphero.
