Heat on the taboo
…as Naked Girls Reading comes to Zim
Zandile Zaza Ndlovu
Naked Girls Reading turns up the heat on tackling taboo issues that revolve around sex. Using the medium of Literature with a fresh twist of adding two sexy ladies dressed in next to nothing, captivates audiences to fall in love with reading literature.
This forty-five minute set of monologues brings to light and addresses feminism, motherhood, rape, being in love, sexuality, and letter to my younger self. All being very uncomfortable topics that ordinarily are reserved to news bulletins and non-governmental organisation conferences and not for day to day conversations.
The element of using sex and the façade of naked ladies to draw audiences to take interest in literature was wittingly carried out and delivered.
Audiences were left mesmerised and paid attention to the pertinent issues plaguing women and society as a whole.
In an industry dominated by men, the debut of Patience Phiri as a writer, director and producer heralded her arrival.
Partnered by long-time friend and fellow diva, television personality Sizwakele Ndlovu, Phiri popularly known for being a controversial social media entrepreneur, tackles the theatrical scene head on.
It’s either Go Big or Go Home and the two did just that.
Taking on the mammoth task of producing an Internationally acclaimed stage franchise that had been done in over twenty six countries and putting their own stamp on it.
Naked Girls Reading premiered in Harare at the Theatre in the Park Tuesday.
Had it not been for the planned political protests, this premiere would have had a full house as so much interest and buzz could be seen and heard dominating social media.
The ambiance on stage was breath-taking.
A simple and minimalistic set; two comfortable chairs and glasses of wine signified audiences were in for a treat.
The melodic sounds of Jill Scott serenaded the audience, a rightful choice as her lyrics set the tone and mood for the evening.
Enter Patience and Sizwakele clad in silk gown, leaving a lot to the imagination of what lay beneath.
Off went the gowns, and sighs of relief were let out as the ladies were dressed in typical Las Vegas showgirl bright, colourful costumes of corsets and ballet tutus.
To others disappointment as they had hoped to see the ladies in their most natural state.
However even though they did not appear in their birthday suits, the scantily clad ladies showed lots of skin and their curvaceous silhouettes.
The on stage chemistry between Patience and Sizwakele was light hearted and infectious.
Even as they were having to combat such frank sexual oriented discourse, and their on stage vibe aided the audience to relax and come to grips with the intensity of the issues being discussed.
Naked Girls Reading saw the ladies select eight pieces of literature which they wrote specifically for the play, as well as works by Lady Tshawe.
To our very conservative Zimbabweans, the readings set out to challenge our thoughts on sexual liberation and our ability to openly discuss what goes on behind closed doors and in between the sheets.
With any new production and especially for these theatre debutants, the areas they would need to improve on is shake off the nerves and fully own their sexuality on stage.
The highlight was the articulation in the storytelling as audiences were enthralled in the stories.
One felt like they had been teleported into another dimension and were reliving Sizwakele’s rush hour moments of being late in her house or Patience’s sexual advice for men on how to give pleasure to their women.
Commissioned by Rooftops Productions, the staging of Naked Girls Reading has given women a voice to tell their stories.
As well as putting Zimbabwe on the global map and as we join the exclusive club of Naked Girls Reading editions worldwide.
A very commendable show that will have audiences gasping and begging for more.
The show ran until September 2.
