Kudzai Sevenzo is directing a staged reading of ‘Ruined’ by Lynn Nottage on on October 22, 2016 at Zimbabwe German Society. The reading will commence at 5:30pm. This presentation is brought to the public by Almasi as part of the organisation’s Staged Reading series which are gaining popularity locally.
The readings are free of charge in a quest to encourage Zimbabweans to engage more actively in the performing arts. The presentations include post-performance talk back sessions where the audience and performers can exchange ideas.
This particular story titled ‘Ruined’ is based on the life of Mama Nadi, a shrewd business woman who is trying to stay afloat in a country torn by civil war.The piece is set in a small mining town in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The story description states: “The war has ravaged the country and especially the young girls whose bodies have been used as battlefields and have literally been torn to pieces by soldiers from both sides of the conflict. Mama Nadi takes these “damaged” girls into her brothel and profits from them; a fate far kinder than the brutality and stigma they face in the world outside her doors.
“But she must play her cards well, as soldiers from both sides of the conflict frequent her bar. How far will she go to survive? Is she protecting or profiting by the women she shelters? Can a price be placed on a human life?”
Almasi is endeavouring to advance dramatic literacy in the Zimbabwean community. According to Almasi “Dramatic literacy is a crucial component of powerful, excellent play making. A noticed component needed in Zimbabwean dramatic arts development is the comprehension and in-depth analysis of excellent dramatic works that have come before.
“Without an awareness and understanding of some of the greatest dramatic works, the Zimbabwean dramatic artist cannot develop to the level of dramatic literacy necessary to create compelling, well structured, dramatic works.
“Almasi’s goal is to facilitate excellent new Zimbabwean works into existence, works that can compete on a global level and leave behind a Zimbabwean dramatic literature legacy. Staged readings also nurture dramaturgy which allows for the portrayal to be rich, resonant and specific to the placement of the play in time, space and moment in history.”
