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Mbulelo Mpofu, Showbiz Reporter

THEATRE lovers who missed the two-day staging of The Other Cecil by Sunduza Dance Theatre in August, will get another chance to see the play at the Bulawayo Amphitheatre on Friday and Saturday.

Bulawayo Amphitheatre

This comes after a huge plea to the dance ensemble to stage it again in Bulawayo.

Sunduza members play the characters of what is now globally-known as the Cecilgate where a black-maned 13-year-old lion, which lived in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park was killed by Walter Palmer, a dentist from America.

This drew international media attention and sparked an uproar among animal conservationists, politicians and celebrities as well as a strong negative internet response against Palmer, who went into hiding.

Sunduza Dance Theatre’s director Charles Mahlaba Banda said demand from fans persuaded them to stage the play again in Bulawayo. Last month they took the play to Mitambo Arts Festival in Harare.

“The idea to stage the play again emanated from the huge request from our fans who said they want to learn more about animal conversation and how the San people lived. The play helps people understand the demerits of trophy hunting.

“Even in Harare, we got rave reviews hence the decision to stage it again in Bulawayo,” he said.

Mahlaba and company have also revived several productions in the last few years to reach an international level of competence. These include Voices from the Rocks – the Story of the Matopos and The Adventures of Robert Moffat.

Sunduza Dance Theatre has in the past performed with arts mainstays such as poet Albert Nyathi, Lovemore Majaivana, Black Umfolosi, Imbizo, Paul Lunga, Jazz Impacto and Siyaya among others. -@eMKlass_49