Wellington Chindara aka Chairman
 |
| Wellington Chindara |
Born on 7 July 1973, Wellington started community theatre arts half a
year after completing his 'O' Level by a kind of fluke [or so he thought at the
time] after he was mistaken for an experienced actor by a theatre group whose member had failed to pitch up for
a show at Mutendi mission school. The leader of the group had a notion that Wellington was part of the school’s drama club, which he wasn’t though he had done a bit of acting
at primary school.
When he was asked to stand in for the absentee he jumped at the opportunity and that became his acting baptism. He did two roles that day and he enjoyed it so much that when he heard that there were plans to form a drama club he found himself there. There were initially six people who formed the group back in 1992 but some started facing resistance from parents who wanted the school graduates to look for formal employment.
The number was then trimmed to five. Wellington became the publicity secretary of the group. The young drama group had not received any formal training and when Amakhosi theatre productions, a professional theatre ensemble from Bulawayo, came to Masvingo they all attended with zeal and passion. The show was a marvel and Amakhosi agreed to briefly train the group. What they learnt that day changed everything.
From that day onwards it became more of theatre, arts workshops and seminars. Financially, the group relied on schools who allowed them to perform for a fee. However, the money was too meagre for the 5 member group and consequently some members faced further resistance from their parents.
When he was asked to stand in for the absentee he jumped at the opportunity and that became his acting baptism. He did two roles that day and he enjoyed it so much that when he heard that there were plans to form a drama club he found himself there. There were initially six people who formed the group back in 1992 but some started facing resistance from parents who wanted the school graduates to look for formal employment.
The number was then trimmed to five. Wellington became the publicity secretary of the group. The young drama group had not received any formal training and when Amakhosi theatre productions, a professional theatre ensemble from Bulawayo, came to Masvingo they all attended with zeal and passion. The show was a marvel and Amakhosi agreed to briefly train the group. What they learnt that day changed everything.
From that day onwards it became more of theatre, arts workshops and seminars. Financially, the group relied on schools who allowed them to perform for a fee. However, the money was too meagre for the 5 member group and consequently some members faced further resistance from their parents.
The financial state of affairs then threatened the
existence of the group since it caused some members to drop out. At one point Wellington actually worked for a wholesale company to alleviate himself from the financial stagnation. However, by this time he was seriously attached to
theatre and managed to get himself fired after six months of work.
When turned back to the group he found out that the other members had already left. More members were then recruited from Wellington's former school.. In 1996 the group became a professional theatre ensemble and Wellington became its first administrative secretary.
The group held out until 2002 after which the country was hit by an economic implosion. Things became very tough for the entire group and Wellington sought refuge in the rural areas where he tended to the field on his plot. He became a small scale farmer for a few years. In 2010 he went back to Masvingo to do full-time theatre in which he still is to the present day.
He then went on to direct the screenplay of Sabhuku Vharazipi part one in 2011, which he co-produced with David Mubayiwa in which he took on the roles of Chairman and Svari.
He is married to actress Kumbirai Chikonye and together they have four children.
When turned back to the group he found out that the other members had already left. More members were then recruited from Wellington's former school.. In 1996 the group became a professional theatre ensemble and Wellington became its first administrative secretary.
The group held out until 2002 after which the country was hit by an economic implosion. Things became very tough for the entire group and Wellington sought refuge in the rural areas where he tended to the field on his plot. He became a small scale farmer for a few years. In 2010 he went back to Masvingo to do full-time theatre in which he still is to the present day.
He then went on to direct the screenplay of Sabhuku Vharazipi part one in 2011, which he co-produced with David Mubayiwa in which he took on the roles of Chairman and Svari.
He is married to actress Kumbirai Chikonye and together they have four children.
David Dzatsunga
Born 29 September 1965 at Ndanga
Hospital in Zaka District, David Dzatsunga is the brains behind Ziya Cultural
Arts Trust which came into being as Ziya Theatre Productions in 1992.
A holder of a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and History from the University of Zimbabwe, David started his theatre journey as drama teacher and Artistic Director of the famous Masvingo Christian Secondary School Drama Club in 1989.
His first play entitled Nyakuchena Ganda won the Best Production and other individual awards in the annual Masvingo Schools Drama Festival hosted at the Charles Austin Theatre, a feat he was to repeat 7 more times in the 1990s.
Other award winning plays by David Dzatsunga are; Nhamo(Troubles) which in 1993 also won the Dominic Kanaventi Trophy for Developing Zimbabwean Theatre, Sungai Dzibate( an anti-ESAP) play, Streetwise, Tafi….( neocolonial ), The Seed of Corruption.
With Ziya, David was to Direct a host of plays, beginning with Voice!!!, Three Good Months, Mudzimu Dzoka, Idlers Corner, Sabhuku naCouncilor ( now re-titled Sabhuku Vharazipi).
Except for Tafi…which he wrote on his own, David employed the Frearian approach in which the actors and the community participated in the play writing process.
It must however be noted that as the Artistic Director, David would always facilitate the processes as well as train the actors to play their roles with panache.
David treasures the 23 year old relationship he has shared with David Mubaiwa and Wellington Chindara who are the only remaining founder members of Ziya and fellow Trustees. David Dzatsunga is married to Shillah and they have two sons and two daughters.
He currently lectures English at Morgan Zintec Teachers’ College in Harare as well as being a Union leader.
David Dzatsunga directed and co-wrote Sabhuku Vharazipi Part Two.
A holder of a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and History from the University of Zimbabwe, David started his theatre journey as drama teacher and Artistic Director of the famous Masvingo Christian Secondary School Drama Club in 1989.
His first play entitled Nyakuchena Ganda won the Best Production and other individual awards in the annual Masvingo Schools Drama Festival hosted at the Charles Austin Theatre, a feat he was to repeat 7 more times in the 1990s.
Other award winning plays by David Dzatsunga are; Nhamo(Troubles) which in 1993 also won the Dominic Kanaventi Trophy for Developing Zimbabwean Theatre, Sungai Dzibate( an anti-ESAP) play, Streetwise, Tafi….( neocolonial ), The Seed of Corruption.
With Ziya, David was to Direct a host of plays, beginning with Voice!!!, Three Good Months, Mudzimu Dzoka, Idlers Corner, Sabhuku naCouncilor ( now re-titled Sabhuku Vharazipi).
Except for Tafi…which he wrote on his own, David employed the Frearian approach in which the actors and the community participated in the play writing process.
It must however be noted that as the Artistic Director, David would always facilitate the processes as well as train the actors to play their roles with panache.
David treasures the 23 year old relationship he has shared with David Mubaiwa and Wellington Chindara who are the only remaining founder members of Ziya and fellow Trustees. David Dzatsunga is married to Shillah and they have two sons and two daughters.
He currently lectures English at Morgan Zintec Teachers’ College in Harare as well as being a Union leader.
David Dzatsunga directed and co-wrote Sabhuku Vharazipi Part Two.
David Mubayiwa aka Sabhuku Vharazipi
 |
| David Mubaiwa aka Sabhuku Vharazipi |
Born
on 02-10-1973, the
main character in Sabhuku Vharazipi is originally from Nerupiri area in Gutu
district. He is married to Matimbire Servy
and has three sons, the eldest being Patrick, then Tapiwa and Tatenda.
David completed his Ordinary Level at Masvingo Christian Secondary in 1991 and was among the founding members of Ziya in 1992. Initially, he had problems with his parents who wanted him to look for employment and leave theatre.
He had to briefly stay with his artistic director, David Dzatsunga before setting out on his own. David featured in the making of all the productions by the then Ziya and played roles in such productions as Voice!!!, The Idlers’ Corner, Mudzimu Dzoka, Machetes, Guns and Talks, Six Good Months, Bandit and a few story-telling plays.
David gained most of his experience as a stage performer in mostly theatre for development initiatives and public performances in schools, colleges, churches and community centers.
David made his major breakthrough with the leading role he performed in the hugely popular Sabhuku Vharazipi DVD. In this screen-play he mesmerized viewers with his hilarious portrayal of Sabhuku Vharazipi, a corrupt and amorous headman.
Suffice to say, this catapulted him into celebrity status to the extent that he draws crowds even when he is not acting. Reggae music , drumming, singing and fathering are David’s passions. He has just starred in the sequel to Sabhuku Vharazipi in which he co-wrote and assisted directing.
David completed his Ordinary Level at Masvingo Christian Secondary in 1991 and was among the founding members of Ziya in 1992. Initially, he had problems with his parents who wanted him to look for employment and leave theatre.
He had to briefly stay with his artistic director, David Dzatsunga before setting out on his own. David featured in the making of all the productions by the then Ziya and played roles in such productions as Voice!!!, The Idlers’ Corner, Mudzimu Dzoka, Machetes, Guns and Talks, Six Good Months, Bandit and a few story-telling plays.
David gained most of his experience as a stage performer in mostly theatre for development initiatives and public performances in schools, colleges, churches and community centers.
David made his major breakthrough with the leading role he performed in the hugely popular Sabhuku Vharazipi DVD. In this screen-play he mesmerized viewers with his hilarious portrayal of Sabhuku Vharazipi, a corrupt and amorous headman.
Suffice to say, this catapulted him into celebrity status to the extent that he draws crowds even when he is not acting. Reggae music , drumming, singing and fathering are David’s passions. He has just starred in the sequel to Sabhuku Vharazipi in which he co-wrote and assisted directing.
Ziya Cultural Arts Trust
Founded in 1993 In Masvingo city, Ziya cultural theatre productions as it was known, has survived harsh times where other groups simply folded because of lack of real support in the arts industry during that period. The group’s breakthrough was after a dvd production of one the plays ‘Sabhuku Vharazipi’. The play has transcended age, gender, dialects and other boundaries to be a darling of the audience. However, because of the high level of piracy and bootlegging of the video the group failed to get any financial benefit from the arising fame. During the hard times some of the group’s members left for greener pastures and only four of the original members remain. The group reconstituted itself and formed in mid 2013 and August 2013 saw the second instalment of Sabhuku Vharazipi being recorded after financial support from Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust. The release of the video is currently set for October 2013.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
