Mugabe, My Dad & Me by Tonderai Munyevu has been nominated for the prestigious Best New Play award at the 2022 UK Theatre Awards.
Tonderai Munyevu is a writer, actor and director born in 1982 Zimbabwe – one of the generation born in the 1980s after independence, and a ‘born free’. His extraordinary and deeply personal play begins as the first cracks of prosperous Zimbabwe’s decline start to appear in the 1990s. He and his mother emigrate to England and the engaging and deeply moving story of his life, interspersed with Robert Mugabe’s infamous speeches and accompanied by haunting music performed on the mbira, questions his identity and what it means to return ‘home’.
The play, performed by Munyavu and Millicent Chapanda, premiered at York Theatre Royal in summer 2021, in a stunning co-production with ETT, Brixton House and in association with Alison Holder. It was directed by York Theatre Royal’s Associate Director, John R. Wilkinson. Following a successful run in York the production then toured the UK in 2022 to critical acclaim.
“Looking after this play throughout its creation has been one of the most gratifying experiences of my career to date. I am proud to call Tonderai a great friend. He is a true artist and Mugabe, My Dad & Me is rightly getting the recognition it deserves. It reinforces the fact that theatre’s primary function is to present authentic stories, universal and powerful enough to move every audience member for having seen them; be they in York, Brixton, or beyond.” John R. Wilkinson – Associate Director, York Theatre Royal.
The UK Theatre Awards will be held at the Gulidhall in London on Sunday 23 October.
