Playing With Food

Playing with Food tells a story that touched the nation. Drawing upon the events surrounding Malawi's food crisis of 2002 in which up to 40,000 people died, Playing with Food deals with one of Malawi’s most pertinent issues. The crisis is widely believed to have been preventable, and the many deaths the direct result of corruption and political mis-management.

This show offers something never before experienced by Malawi’s theatre going public. A multi-media production, Playing with Food integrates filmed sequences, photo images and a pre-recorded soundtrack into the live action of the story.

Also featuring gospel singers and highly-skilled percussionists, this lively, engaging show explores how political decisions affect the lives of the people. This production takes the audience deep into the heart-rending reality of life without food.

The production follows a group of normal Malawians as they attempt to understand the facts of the crisis. Through their investigation into the many political and commercial manoeuvrings they are forced to come to terms with what happened in their own lives.

In addition to a major national tour, Playing with Food was shown to a specially invited group of key decision makers and opinion formers, and was followed by a televised panel discussion. Ex-vice President Justin Malewezi, Director of Public Prosecutions Ishmael Wadi and prominent Human Rights campaigner Rafiq Hajat were among the influential panellists.

This production has been born of many months of meticulous research, an intense devising process with Malawian performers, and many words of wisdom from prominent decision-makers. With Malawi’s political landscape shifting dramatically, a further food shortage looming and the “maize scam” story gripping the nation, the timing of this tour could not be more perfect. It is directed by Melissa Eveleigh, who wrote and directed the ground-breaking Chilly-Heart which played here in Malawi (“Nanzikambe takes theatre to another Level” – The Nation; “Nanzikambe in a theatre revolution” – Malawi News), and Eating to Live, which was a collaboration with South African Theatre Company Shoestring, funded by the South African Arts Council and presented at the Harare International Festival of the Arts.

Playing with Food is funded by Norwegian Church Aid, the Prince Claus Fund and the Commonwealth Foundation.

PLAYING WITH FOOD - THEATRE FOR DEVELOPMENT

This award-winning multi-media, musical production, tells the tale of the 2002 food crisis in Malawi.

The production encouraged debate around the dubious political and legal circumstances which caused the death of 40,000 people. At a time when the ‘maize scam’ was a hot local issue and ex-finance minister, Friday Jumbe was arrested for his involvement in selling the national food reserve and personally profiteering from hunger.

The piece toured nationally to sell-out audiences. In addition to this, Nanzikambe organised televised performance led debates for key decision makers, from the government, donor and NGO community, judiciary and civil society. The aim was to raise debate, public consciousness of food security issues, and critical thinking around the legal and political consequences of the food crisis.

The production won a national award for it contributionto the improvement of the human rights situation in Malawi.