Zimbabwean artists across the globe continue to hog the limelight for various good reasons. A recent achievement comes in the form of 22-year-old girl who is part of a leading German play titled ‘R.E.S.P.E.C.T.’ which premiered at the Junges Ensemble Stuttgart last week and Zimbojam watched the play.

Beverly Mukunyadze hailing from Highfield, Harare left the country without formal stage performance training and auditioned last year for a spot in the high-flying multi-national dance show.

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The show speaks on the subject of respect at a critical time when the global discussion around the issue of migration remains topical.

R.E.S.P.E.C.T touches on migration and its impact on the social relations and cohesion within society and questions the meaning of respect.

What does it mean to have respect, to earn and get respect? Why do some people get respect and why do some not get it?

These are some of the questions that get provoked in the enchanting and brilliant dance show.

For a Zimbabwean watching the play, you can’t help but marvel at how the show walks the talk on respect and social cohesion as several languages can be heard and Beverly who opens the play speaks passionately in Shona on most of her parts and you can pick some clarks dance moves.

At the end of the performance, an elated Mukunyadze whose amazing dancing and acting on stage matched professionally trained performers could not hide her joy and appreciation saying, “It has been a great experience. Facing my own challenges has been a way of inspiring growth in me. I was delighted at how the play fulfills its message by involving us in the development of the story.”

Prior to her participation in the production Beverly only had informal artistic experience from her work as a dancer, actress and coordinator with Chipawo, Zvishamiso and Jibilika Dance Trust and she hopes to continue pursuing her artistic career.

R.E.S.P.E.C.T. director Brigitte Dethier was impressed by Beverly’s performance saying, “She did so well given that she was shy at first but managed to overcome and has a wonderful stage presence”

Directed and choreographed by Brigitte Dethier and Ives Thuwis-De Leeuw, the narrative is told through nine youthful performers on stage who hail from several countries namely Najbeer Tarek Haji – Iraq, Kelvin Kilonzo – originally from Kenya but now a German citizen, Beverly Mukunyadze – Zimbabwean, Jonathan Beck, Anna Mülders, Franziska Schmitz, Lin Verleger, Niklas Weise, Leah Wewoda all Germans.

This is the fourth time JES artistic director, Brigitte Dethier and choreographer, Ives Thuwis-de Leeuw have developed together with a dance theatre performance where professionals and non-professionals are equally meeting in the rehearsal process and on stage.

Both theatre-makers are connected through a long-term successful collaborative work and on the backdrop of their first collaborative project, ‘Just five more minutes’ which received the major German theatre award DER FAUST.

The show is still showing at the Junge Ensemble Stuttgart (JES) an award winning children and youth theater in Stuttgart.

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