Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. GLOBALLY-ACCLAIMED film actor and producer Chiedza Rwodzi has received an accolade for her first stage feature play, Strangers and Revelations, which has been running at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
The festival runs from August 1 to 23 at the Community Church Edinburgh, King’s Hall, Newington, UK.
Rwodzi, who has been putting a more than realistic act, received an Intercultural Connections (IC) Award on Saturday last week in honour of her achievement through the Intercultural Connections Initiative in Edinburgh.
Winnie Wen director for IC Awards said the awards recognised and celebrated international artists through four categories namely: the Personal Achievement Award, Full Production Award, Pioneer Award and the Future Generation Award.
“The IC Award is an esteemed recognition presented to outstanding theatre productions and artists performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. More than just a trophy, this award serves as a gateway to international opportunities, providing recipients with access to the global theatre industry, professional networking and expanded market reach.”
Rwodzi’s first stage feature play Strangers and Revelations synopsis highlights that: “People can be strange and scary and complicated, up and down like the tides… Zodwa and Malcolm, two Zimbabweans in London meet for their first date in unusual circumstances at Malcolm’s house. They size each other up, connecting and debating over shared cultural understanding and experiences, ultimately revealing more about themselves than they bargained for once they start to uncover deep, staggering truths about each other. The debut play by Zimbabwean playwright Rwodzi, Strangers and Revelations is a striking and provocative exploration of relationships (between men and women), mythology and trauma through an African lens.”
Rwodzi told NewsDay Life & Style that the award means a lot to her.
“Being among such a strong pool of nominees is deeply meaningful and being recognised for the work I am doing is incredibly affirming. It is also an honour to represent my country on an international stage, a privilege I don’t take lightly.
“This award feels like a milestone in my journey as a storyteller and as co-founder of Unshaded Arts, where our mission is to champion universal stories driven by marginalised voices. I believe in the power of theatre to challenge us, to heal, advocate, uplift and connect people across the world. Strangers and Revelations was born out of a desire to explore complex experiences like faith, trauma and belonging. Special mention to co-directors Matthew Kissa and Hassan Gova for putting this play on the stage and fellow actor Dwight Mlambo who I am performing with at the Fringe.
“This recognition reminds me that these stories matter and it fuels my commitment to create with courage, authenticity and an unwavering belief in the transformative power of storytelling.”
Ellen Leslie, a correspondent for the UK’s Independent newspaper praised the play with a glowing five-star review.
“Strangers and Revelations is a hidden gem at this year’s Fringe. It’s a bold and powerful play shining a much-needed light on power imbalances between African men and women. It evokes shock, sadness, anger and everything in between, and leaves the audience reeling once the lights go out,” Leslie said.
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