The Homecoming Queen
On 22 April 2023, 2:30pm Almasi Collaborative Arts presented a staged reading of The Homecoming Queen by Ngozi Anyanwu at Zimbabwe German Society. Directed by Charmaine R. Mujeri the staged reading had a good mix of new and experienced actors.
About The Homecoming Queen
A bestselling novelist returns to Nigeria to care for her ailing father, but before she can bury him, she must relearn the traditions she’s long forgotten. Having been absent for over a decade, she must collide with her culture, traumatic past, painful regrets, and the deep, deep love she thought she could never have.
The staged reading of The Homecoming Queen by Ngozi Anyanwu is part of the Almasi staged reading series.
click above to watch
Cast
Min’enhle Mguni
Musawenkosi Saruro
Tadziyana D. Bvumbe
Chelsy Maumbe
Cynthia Njagu
Rumbidzai Musiwa
Munashe Goromonzi
Catherine Mutimusakwa
Crew
Director - Charmaine R. Mujeri
Stage Manager - Rutendo Chimunda
Publicity - Tawanda Mupatsi
Videographer - James Jemwa
Photographer - Jon Pilch
Operations Manager - Kudakwashe Kanembirira
Programs Coordinator - Gideon Jeph Wabvuta
Associate Artistic Director - Zaza Muchemwa
Executive Artistic Director - Danai Gurira
Audience Reception
‘Amazing!!!’
- Munatsa L.
‘It was a great performance. I loved it and I have learnt a lot.’
- Annie Bridget Paradza
‘It was a well-coordinated event that everyone could relate to.’
- Boniface Chimedza
‘A very well put together cast and exceptional performance. Looking forward to more readings such as these!’
- R.C
‘It was amazing and really enjoyed every minute of it.’
- Alexander T.
‘Awesome sauce. It was great. The reading was entertaining-everything was in sync.’
- Ashley S.P
‘It was a touching story that was beautiful. I very much enjoyed it and can’t wait for the next one.’
- Michelle Makurumidze
‘Amazing. Absolutely powerful.’
- Patience Sibanda
‘You literally took me through lessons on culture and heritage. You brought the Pan-Africanist in me. The cast was superb, great direction. Love it!!’
- Nyaradzo Matanga
‘It was good, and I took notes.’
- Adler Mbofana
‘It was an entertaining play. One of the best play readings I have been to.’
- Philani Ama
Note from the Director
By Charmaine R. Mujeri
“It is almost as if we are afraid that events become real once we put a name and face to it. Because we refuse to acknowledge these abuses, we then breed time bombs in the survivors. ”
There is an undeniable culture of silence in our African society concerning issues of abuse. It is almost as if we are afraid that events become real once we put a name and face to it. Because we refuse to acknowledge these abuses, we then breed time bombs in the survivors.
Ngozi Anyanwu’s menagerie of characters in The Homecoming Queen highlight these issues. They show up in the personalities of damaged adults who cannot form meaningful relationships as husbands, daughters, sisters, fathers, mothers, or friends. There are a lot of damaged people living amongst us. They who have chosen to wear 'masks' to hide their pain. Some are overly happy people pleasers, some alcoholics, drug users, some bitingly sarcastic and brash and some promiscuous. - All these 'masks' are merely coping mechanisms.
The Almasi staged reading of The Homecoming Queen by Ngozi Anyanwu shines a light on the importance of family in trauma resolution processes. It took 3 reads for me to begin understanding this multi-dimensional play. And throughout the rehearsal there continued to be revelations. Whilst I had put together a strong cast, lifting the play off the page remained a challenge.
A lot of work had to be done to get the cast to trust themselves with their emotions. Through several table reads and what may have seemed like unending discussions, they began to 'let go'. The sensitive nature of the play demanded that the entire ensemble tap into that quiet place within themselves to allow certain 'truths' to come to light. In the end they were able to do justice to the victims, the victors and the witnesses.
The Homecoming Queen by Ngozi Anyanwu is a theatrical masterpiece that deserves to be seen on every African stage. And it was my deepest pleasure to share it with Zimbabwean Audiences.