Without A State

 

WITHOUT A STATE     (An April 2024 Production)

Performed by: Bambelela Arts Ensemble

Writer/Director: Nelson Mapako

The Play “Without a State”, tackles the root causes and effects of being stateless. It asks questions about “THOUSANDS LIVING ON THE MARGINS DUE TO STATELESSNESS IN ZIMBABWE”. It calls for an immediate address of this scenario. The play fuses several theatre genres and techniques while tackling sensitive issues that people find difficult to talk about.

Phiri is a descended of a migrant Labourer who worked in the mines of the country before independence. His wife Sethi is a daughter of a deceased family which was murdered during the Gukurahundi massacres in Matabeleland region in 1983. The two don’t have any form of identification documents and now they find themselves facing a mammoth task to acquire a birth certificate for their daughter.

It is estimated that in Zimbabwe 300 000 people are stateless. This is as a result of a variety of reasons. These ranges from being unregistered migrant workers, being descendants of such, being born by parents who don’t have proper identification documentation and other citizenship laws which are discriminatory in nature as well as lack of will power by those in authority.

The play is inspired by a report by Amnesty International, Zimbabwe statelessness report “WE ARE LIKE “STRAY ANIMALS”

Characters:

Phiri (A descendent of an immigrant worker)

Sethi (Phiri’s wife)

Officer (Registrar office)

Other characters.

Head of State

Soldier

Police Officer

Father

Infant

Running Time: 55 minutes to 60 minutes

The Rehearsals in Pictures

The play has been performed at:

1. The Holiday Inn Hotel, Bulawayo

2. Isilwane Youth centre, Bulawayo

3. Magwegwe Youth Centre, Bulawayo

4. Mpopoma Youth Centre, Bulawayo

5. Matshobana Youth Centre, Bulawayo

6. Amnesty International Zimbabwe, AGM Harare 2024.

7.. Bulawayo Theatre, 2024

Performances in Pictures

Press review links

1. The Theatre Times

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjpo4u77uiJAxWyUUEAHcMGGdAQFnoECBYQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fthetheatretimes.com%2Fwithout-a-state-a-collision-between-migration-and-the-perpetual-pursuit-of-identity-and-belonging%2F&usg=AOvVaw1AhgrWJpflIoKrmdD-bOrp&opi=89978449

2. The Standard

https://www.thestandard.co.zw/standard-style/article/200026190/edutainment-mix-the-essence-of-nomadism-a-review-of-without-a-state-by-bambelela-arts-ensemble

3. The Newsday

https://www.newsday.co.zw/theindependent/topic/nelson-mapako

Without A State Technical Rider
Director/Writer: Nelson Mapako Producer: Witness Tavarwisa Performed By: Bambelela  Arts Ensemble Cast:                     Leonard Phiri                               Nomvelo Bhehane                               Josphat Ndlovu                               Bongelani Ncube	Production Manager: Khumbulani Mathe   Language: English/ Can be performed in Ndebele as well. Duration: 60minutes Rating:  (Suitable for all audience)
REQUIREMENTS
1. STAGE:   Black Box. Backdrop can be of bricks. Depth: 5m to 8m, Length 10m to 12m, Wings on both sides of the stage. (The play can still be performed on any stage.) 2. MULTI MEDIA: None 3. SOUND:  None 4. Props:     2 Benches with back rests, each about 1,5m to 2metres long.                      3 flag poles about two meters each on which to hoist flags.                      1 Backpack chemical spray. (Used for pests in Agriculture).                      1 Anti-riot police shield.                       1 Gun replica (Preferable replica of an AK47) 5. Lights:    General wash lighting is required.  Dim, Special focused spots and Red wash.  Cues will be worked out with a Lighting Technician/Console Operator provided for the duration of the production.