Bwanali's Package- A Theatre Production

BWANALI’S PACKAGE- SYNOSPIS

Influenced by a popular astonishing mythical story of African wizardry which is alleged to have happened in a mining town around the 70’s, Bwanali’s Package is an hour long story of labour dispute, allegations of infidelity and paternal discourse as well as medical ethics misconduct.

Bwanali an immigrant worker from Nyasaland (now Malawi) is dismissed from work after serving the Native Mining Consortium for over twenty years. His crime is that of engaging in an illegal industrial action. Upon being dismissed he brings into play his wizardry expertise to haunt the human Resources Manager and her family.

His exit package demands are shocking and unrealistic. No one is prepared to yield to his demands but at the end he does things his way causing a stir in the mining town and a breakdown of the Human’s Resources Manager’s family. 

Performances

Bwanali's Package has been previously been performed at :-

- Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo 2013  

    Bulawayo Theatre Club and Amakhosi 

- Beitbridge International Festival of Arts

Purple Hearts

Cast: 

Bwanali's Package is a collaboration among Professonal Artists from Bulwayo and Hwange these are:

1. Gift Chakuvinga

2. Simephina Nyoni

3. Lucky Munzabwa

4. Mildred Nkomo

For bookings Contact:

Nelson Mapako

email: pakos07@gmail.com

Facebook: nelson mapako

Skype: mapako.nelson 

WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY: Nelson Mapako

Nelson Mapako is a creative, versatile and committed writer/director as well as a theatre trainer whose workshops and theatre productions have transformed the local arts Industry. Apart from Zimbabwe he has worked in Swaziland for 5years for swaziland Theatre for Children and Young People as well as his own project Iphi 'Africa Project. His collaborations include working with Laway Arts South Africa/ Netherlands, Yingmei Duan a performance artists from German, Raisedon Baya a renowned Zimbabwean theatre practitioner among others. Some of his productions include Outcast , Night Shift, A drop in the Land, Never a Comrade, Six all Out, Silent Screams and television productions such as Khuluza (a puppetry program shown on Zimbabbwe Television) as well as Matentekazane (a puppetry TV show on Swazi Television in Swaziland.  

Mapako is currently part of the Royal Court Theatre UK/ British Council international playwrights residency project. 

For production and theatre workshops contact:

email: pakos07@gmail.com

 

Folktales - Storytelling Workshop

Presentation by: Nelson Mapako

 @ Samaritans 06/12/13 

Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
 
Single Narratives
This is a presentation done by a solo artist. (one person)
The story teller plays multiple roles, as he/she does not have any other player for support.
Single narratives demand that the storyteller does the following:-

1.      Narration

- A storyteller should have what I term a “visual voice”. A voice that makes the listener/ audience see pictures in the voice.

- The story teller has to be good in voice management techniques i.e

a) Diction – (natural voice is a vital tool for the storyteller)

b)  Voice projection

-  be conscious of the performance space you are using. Is it an open air space, a general hall, or a theatre with proper acoustics?

-What other sounds are there in the surroundings which are competing with you.

- Performance spaces vary in size and design and your projection is determined by the provided performance space

c) Voice variation (levels- select a level that will allow you to switch levels in an interesting manner & tone)

2.      Playing of multiple characters.

-          The story teller has to be in a position to play different characters within a particular story. (Human characters, animal characters, and other imaginary characters such as ogres.

-          Mannerisms, gestures and character traits should be given attention so as to be able to present well-built and developed distinct characters.

-          Characters can be defined through costume, voice, movement and props

3.      Transformation to become objects.

The story teller should be able to transform into other objects- wind, rain, trees, plane, mountain etc. depending on whatever the story is demanding. Keep it as visual as possible.

4.      Stage management

-          It is important for a storyteller to understand performance space.

-           Is it a presentation that involves multi entrances and exits or it is a single entrance and exit type of presentation?

-          Is a set involved?

-          Where are you going to place your props?

-          Which one is the hot spot for the storyteller, in order to reach out to the entire audience?

-          Interaction with props and other visual aids being used in the presentation.

Multi Narratives
This is presentation done by an ensemble.
It can either be one person or more in the ensemble narrating the story.
Ensemble members support in various ways.

1.      Alternate in narrating the story.

-          Also each narrator can tell his/story however all should be driven by one overall plot even when sub plots or parallel plots are used.

2.      Playing different characters created in the story.

-These characters can be human beings, animals or imaginary characters such as ogres

3.      Producing sound effects.

-  To set up a background mood for a particular scene.

- Sound effects can also enhance the believability of particular characters.

4.      Moving props around.

It props are used it is the ensemble can be handy in making sure they are move as the story demands.

5.      Playing different objects.

-          Such as rocks, Structures e.g hut, etc.

6.      Backing the narrator if songs are used.

Song in communication is common in storytelling and the ensemble can assist in bringing out melodious music.

GROUPWORK

1.      What are the advantages and disadvantage of single Narratives

2.      What are the advantages and disadvantages of multi Narratives

“KOLOBEJA” created with the young in mind

By Nelson Mapako

Year by year Intwasa Arts Festival ko Bulawayo continues to cater for the needs of the school going audiences. Meeting the needs of the festival’s young audience has now developed to being a norm and one of the visible priorities in programming the festival’s events. This year for the young audiences, patrons will witness an introduction of our traditional heritage of storytelling to the now popular Live literature project as well as the Plan High Schools Drama Competitions.

Dubbed Kolobeja the presentation is a variety of mesmerizing tales inherited from our forefathers and brought to life by the Schools Playwrights and Actors Academy (SPAA) of Nhimbe Trust as well as the renowned community theatre group Bambelela Arts Ensemble.

While this presentation is targeting the pre and primary school kids it is suitable for all age groups especially for those who want to relieve the art of storytelling and trigger those old memories when we used to sit by the bonfire at night with our grannies keeping as awake with beautifully crafted tales well into the middle of the night.

The definition of proper theatre for children is when we have theatre being done by children for children. Children play a core role in creating stories as well as presenting them to their peers and adults. Kolobeja by SPAA is one production that can best be described as child centered.  Young people get into the shoes of our grannies and astonishingly narrate the orature with eloquence and clarity. The tone, tempo and twists of the story will startle the always eager young ones and keep the elderly on the edge of their seats.

Sharing the stage with SPAA will be Bambelela Arts Ensemble a tried and tested community theatre group that has survived through the years when most community theatre groups collapsed or switched over to dance which has a bigger ready market.  Bambelela has stuck to their identity of community theatre and one of the arts genres that they have pursued with some excellence is story telling.

The cast consist of seasoned artists who some of them are naturally comedians while others have mastered the craft of an orator such that one is left asking for more. The fusion of narration, dramatization and song in communication adds value to Bambelela  Arts’ presentation. The ensemble has a vast experience working with pre- schools and primary schools and they know what exactly to offer to their audiences.

Make a date on Wednesday 25^th September and on Friday the 27^th of September. The show starts at 10AM on both days at the Bulawayo Theatre.