After its performance at Madsoc Theatre in Lilongwe, the one-act production titled State of the Ape Address starring Tawonga Taddja Nkhonjera has begun its Southern Africa tour.
This is an adaptation play written by Franz Kafka but has been directed by Stanley Mambo has started the tour in South Africa.
Mambo wrote on his social media page that they were looking forward to great performances on the tour as part of showing the best of talent from Malawi.
The first performance was on Wednesday with the second yesterday at Zai Oat Laduma Hotel and Polokwane Library Gardens Auditorium.
Nkhonjera said ahead of the performance at Madsoc Theatre that apart from performances in South Africa, the Southern Africa tour will take them to other countries such as Lesotho, Mozambique, Eswatini and Zimbabwe.
He has since made appeals to schools and colleges in the country to book the show under the Literature Live programme, “where we showcase the play and then have literature workshops with the students”.
A Mwezi Arts production, produced by Hazel Musochera, speaks to the people today,highlighting vital issues such as pollution, neo-colonialism, modern-day slavery and self-esteem.
In the play, Red Peter, played by Nkhonjera, an ape who was shot, captured and scientifically tamed to mimic human action and speech, presents his story to members of the academy – A State of the Ape Address.
Red Peter loses the memory of what being an ape feels like. To fit and find a way out, he adapts to handshaking, smoking, spitting, scrolling, performing and drinking.