‘Harvest of Thorns’ a masterpiece

07 Aug, 2016 - 00:08 0 Views
‘Harvest of Thorns’ a masterpiece

The Sunday Mail

Takudzwa Chihambakwe

“Well that is the idea but again what limits us is funding. In 1994, I was approached by some top film directors in Africa and they had gotten a lucrative deal with some huge Western production company.”

 

HISTORY was made on Thursday July 27 when, for the first time ever, a local novel was turned into a play.

The novel “Harvest of Thorns”, which was used by many students as a set book during their Ordinary-Level studies, was turned into a play titled “Harvest of Thorns Classic”.

The author of the book, renowned writer Shimmer Chinodya, was also the producer and director of the play.

However, the presentation made at Theatre in the Park at the launch of the play was just an excerpt.

But despite that, the crowd enjoyed the hour long delivery. Had the play gone all the way, some would have left the auditorium with ruptured lungs and decimated rib cages — yes, it was that good.

Featuring the crème de la crème of theatre in Zimbabwe — Charles Matare, Chipo Bizure, Sitshengisiwe Siziba, Everson Ndlovu and Derick Nziyakwi; the play is humorous, yet it also touches on the liberation war and other societal issues.

“It was an exciting process working with the cast and seeing the play develop from one stage to the other,” said Chinodya.

“The beauty of the process was that everyone was contributing to make this production and so many times, we had to make changes from what was on paper to bring out the best in each character. It is good to see that the play come out so well.”

“We once did a musical of the book at Hifa back in 2014 with the likes of Hope Masike and the production was pretty descent.

Chinodya said the book was a pure work of art and is not a reflection of his life.

“The young man in the play — Benjamin — is not a representation of my childhood, no.

“Though some of the things he goes through such as the bullying represent my experiences as a student, the rest is not necessarily my story.”

Chinodya has got plans to take the play on a nationwide tour, funds permitting.

Commenting on whether the book will also be taken to the big screen, Chinodya said,

“Well that is the idea but again what limits us is funding. In 1994, I was approached by some top film directors in Africa and they had gotten a lucrative deal with some huge Western production company.

“Everything was flowing but sadly, for the production to take off, we needed to raise two million pounds and we failed. That is how we failed to take the book onto the big screen back then. In the midst of all the disappointment, I was then approached by another production house and we worked on the film ‘Everyone’s Child’.”

Chinodya encouraged artistes to invest in their craft.

“Let us not be a people who wait for someone else to come and jump-start our projects. Let us use the little we have to invest in our art. I never got any funding to print this play. I simply took money from the sales of my books and invested in this project and now l am feeling the joy of the sacrifice as I am holding the finished project.”

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