Heartbreak Mafia returns to Reps Theatre

Gift Moyo [email protected]

AWARD-WINNING musical theatre production Heartbreak Mafia is set to return to the Reps Theatre in Harare tonight for a four-day run, under the direction of Zimbabwean creative director and musician AneUnha Gwatidzo.

The production, which has enjoyed successful runs at the Mitambo International Theatre Festival and Zimbabwe Creative & Cultural Arts, has also earned three National Arts Merit Awards nominations, winning one.

Featuring a mix of established and emerging actors, singers and songwriters, the cast includes Act Muronzi, Anesu Joanah Lioga, Bobby Morgan, Chiwoneso Shuko Mvududu, Elvis Makomborrero Chikiwa, Minenhle Mguni and Tanatswa Kumirai.

The musical comedy follows a young man navigating the complexities of love and relationships in modern society, with the story unfolding across two contrasting settings.

Gwatidzo initially developed the production in 2022 as a platform to showcase emerging talent in both performance and songwriting.

“Heartbreak Mafia is a musical comedy. It was developed in 2022 to create a platform to showcase new talent both in performance and in songwriting.

“The first act takes place over an evening in a bar full of colourful characters. It follows a young man who hopes to propose marriage to his girlfriend, while the second act is in a courtroom, due to some drama from the aforementioned evening getting out of hand,” said Gwatidzo.

Love sits at the heart of the production, with the play exploring its ability to both transform and damage lives depending on how it is given and received.

“The main theme is that of love and how it can both save and destroy lives. The characters navigate the challenges of love, contempt, infidelity and poor regulation,” he said.

Gwatidzo said the production draws heavily from everyday experiences, allowing audiences to identify with its characters and situations.

“The play is definitely a reflection of real-life stories that people are familiar with. The characters will feel familiar, they’re very human with larger than life moments and outbursts that we’re all prone to,” he said.

Given the production’s strong emphasis on music and vocal performances, Gwatidzo said he deliberately assembled a cast capable of combining acting and singing to meet the demands of the ensemble piece.

“The play is an ensemble piece, it called for a good mix of strong singing actors. Act Muronzi is a musician who has also taken a host of acting roles over the years, so he was an obvious choice.

“Anesu Lioga is a clutch vocalist with a skill of complementing any piece as well as having a unique voice of her own. Bobby Morgan has a beautifully tender voice and brings a passion to the stage in each of his performances,” he said.

Gwatidzo said preparations had been demanding but rewarding, with the cast putting in considerable time to ensure they are ready for audiences.

“The preparations have been demanding, we’ve spent a lot of time getting ready for the audiences we’d be blessed to have. We’ve made a lot of new discoveries in the process. The troops are feeling excited and ready to perform in front of an audience,” he said.

Gwatidzo has been involved in several local theatre productions over the years. His most recent project was as producer and sound designer for fellow Zimbabwean writer and director Petina Gappah’s Yellow Dog Dingo, which was staged at the Reps Theatre in July.