Star FM drama on Gender Based Violence

Genre : Society news
Principal country concerned : Column : Theater
Release/publication date : 2015
Published on : 21/01/2015
Source : http://www.herald.co.zw/star-fm-drama-on-gbv/ 13 January 2015


A new Star FM drama on gender based violence is growing in popularity among listeners with its thought provoking topics. The radio drama is an initiative by arts organisation, Savana Trust and is now in its third week.



Savana Trust director, Daniel Maposa, said the show is drawing overwhelming responses as listeners are opening up about their ordeals.



"This is the first time that our organisation has done a radio drama and it is also a first for Star FM. We had not anticipated such an amazing impact from these real life stories that are being portrayed in the drama."



"It has had both men and women speak out on their horrific encounters with gender based violence. It is sad that people are living under such conditions," said Maposa.



The first episode from two weeks ago tackled the issue of0 violence experienced by a woman who was in a "live in" relationship with her boyfriend.



The economically empowered boyfriend bars her from going to work and isolates her from her family and friends.



She finds herself with no one to turn to as her lover takes the physical and emotional abuse to extreme ends.



"The second episode was about a minor who was raped by a relative. Instead of talking about justice, her family gang up and tries to cover it up as a way of protecting the perpetrator from going to prison," he said.



Maposa who is also the play's director said most of the story lines were taken from the contributions they obtained during Savana Trust's 2014 campaign. The campaign saw them engaging various communities on gender and human rights issues.



"During the campaign, we were using theatre to create dialogue among community members on women's rights, GBV issues. We encountered serous stories and we thought we could share with the nation," he said.



He also spoke of an upcoming episode that will tackle a controversial issue on violence perpetrated towards men.



"Most of our projects are evidence based. We did our research and employed trained writers Leonard Mhatsa, Elton Mujanana and Rudo Mtangadura. They wrote seven episodes and as the director I conceptualised the stories," he said.



Maposa said they were using a number of trained actors to bring out the radio drama to life.



Notable actors include Teddy Mangawa, Carol Mashingaidze, Derrek Nziyakwe and Steward Sakarombe.



"The stories are unique and believable and the use of graphic presentation and representation create environment and ambience. The audience is supposed to visualise so the use of sound effects and directing makes this possible," he said



 

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