The Sunday News
Nkosilesisa Ncube, Sunday Life Reporter
WHILE opera music is an uncommon genre in Zimbabwe and most parts of Africa, 22-year-old theatre director Khaliphile Sibanda hopes to change that through her stage adaptation of the 1986 musical, The Phantom of the Opera.
Known as The Opera Ghost, Sibanda’s rendition of the musical will open in June at Café Munandi but will be preluded by a pre-launch, also to be held at the café on 5 May. The prelaunch will be a sneak peek into what the full play entails and will give the public a chance to acquaint themselves with opera music before the show finally opens in June.
“We chose to do a local adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera, perhaps one of the biggest opera acts in the world to introduce opera to the Zimbabwean audience. The music in The Opera Ghost is simple and with time, hopefully when the local audience has warmed up to the genre we can come up with local original opera concepts,” Sibanda said.
She added that the play would be a great way to introduce opera music to the people of Bulawayo as people have always been generally more open to theatre and plays than they are to trying out new genres in music.
Sibanda, who has been working on The Opera Ghost since December last year said while it was difficult to adapt to a Western story and suiting to one that could resonate with a local audience, she was confident that when the play opens, the delivery will be nothing short of excellent.
“We are working with limited resources but in spite of that, we are very ready. We have been working at this since December and we are confident that when the show opens, the audience will enjoy it. Our lead actress Siphiwe is a trained opera musician and Lightwave Choir, the main source of music is trained in opera so that is an added advantage,” Sibanda said.
Among the cast is kwaito star-turned-poet Kadder who admitted that although singing is not her strongest niche, she was ready for the play to start showing.
“I watched Phantom countless times to prepare for my role. The role I am playing was made for me. I have been practising my singing and I think I am ready. I’m excited to see how it all plays out in front of a live audience,” said Kadder.
The Opera Ghost, like The Phantom of the Opera focuses on a young lady who has a passion for music but instead of using conventional means to be recognised for her talents, she implores the help of a stranger who eventually turns out to not have the best of intentions.
Partnering Sibanda’s Khally S Productions for the play are Alliance Francaisce, Academy of Music, College of Creative Arts, Boom Advertising and Café Munandi.
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