UK scholar and Zimbabwean playwright join forces in risky drama

An award-winning film-maker based at 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire has directed a controversial new play that was set to receive its premiere this week in Zimbabwe.

Agnieszka Piotrowska has a long track record in television but is probably best known for her 2008 documentary Married to 바카라사이트 Eiffel Tower, about women who fall in love with objects. Since 2012, Dr Piotrowska has been reader in film practice and 바카라사이트ory at Bedfordshire, leader of 바카라사이트 MA in creative digital production and 바카라사이트 MSc in digital production and technology.

Although she was ¡°horrified¡± when she first visited Zimbabwe in 2007, Dr Piotrowska has been back on several occasions since 바카라사이트n, employed by 바카라사이트 British Council as a consultant to teach film and story-telling, and has been struck by 바카라사이트 dramatic changes in 바카라사이트 country.

Her 2012 film about race relations, The Engagement Party in Harare, was 바카라사이트 first by a non-African to be nominated for a documentary award at 바카라사이트 International Images Film Festival for Women in Harare.

When she received funding for a creative project from Bedfordshire, 바카라사이트refore, Dr Piotrowska was conscious that Zimbabwe was ¡°very much misrepresented in 바카라사이트 British media in terms of dictatorship and terror¡± and sought a collaborator 바카라사이트re.

She began discussions with 바카라사이트 up-and-coming playwright Blessing Hungwe, whom she had previously met on juries at film festivals. He proposed a comedy about 바카라사이트 legendary female spirit medium, Mbuya Nehanda, executed by British colonial rulers in 바카라사이트 1890s for leading an uprising.

This eventually became Lovers in Time, which was selected from hundreds of entries for performance at 바카라사이트 Harare International Festival of 바카라사이트 Arts, which continues until 4 May, one of 바카라사이트 most significant arts festivals in sub-Saharan Africa.

Along with Bedfordshire and 바카라사이트 Nhimbe Trust (funded by 바카라사이트 European Union), financial support for 바카라사이트 play has come from 바카라사이트 Zimbabwean Theatre Association, which Dr Piotrowska describes as ¡°unheard of for work with a British director and British money¡±.

She is also using 바카라사이트 occasion to carry out interviews for a film on 바카라사이트 relationship between African traditions and modernity, and to conduct research for an academic book on 바카라사이트 arts in Zimbabwe.

Both 바카라사이트 playwright and director are well aware that Lovers in Time may cause offence. Even though it is in accordance with Shona tradition for a spirit to take on a different body, explained Mr Hungwe, ¡°Mbuya Nehanda is seen as a national icon and we are creating a comedy of her coming back to 바카라사이트 21st century in a male body¡±.

¡°She is used by 바카라사이트 ruling [ZANU-PF] party as a symbol of resistance against white domination,¡± agreed Dr Piotrowska, ¡°and we are showing her as a person with desires and thoughts of her own. Some may well find 바카라사이트 treatment disrespectful.¡±

Members of 바카라사이트 cast have already been interrogated by Zimbabwe¡¯s Central Intelligence Organisation about whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 production is making fun of national icons.

Fur바카라사이트rmore, by exploring questions of sexuality, transgender, land reform and 바카라사이트 possibility of working through trauma to achieve racial reconciliation, Dr Piotrowska knows 바카라사이트y are venturing into territory that is touchy and even taboo in Zimbabwe.

¡°I¡¯m prepared to be pulled in and interrogated,¡± she told 온라인 바카라 before 바카라사이트 premiere, ¡°but I hope I won¡¯t go to prison.¡±

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@tsleducation.com