‘Vote For Me’ unpacks the power of the youth vote

Lumka Dumezweni is excited to take the stage by storm, portraying herself as the lead character in the gripping Vote for Me production. The storyline highlights the immense significance of the youth vote and is sure to leave audience members on the edge of their seats.

Dumezweni is one of the vibrant members of the 7th Kwasha Theatre Company. She said she is having fun with the character because it is simply who she is. She loves joking, and playing around with her accent, and was once a head girl which made the role a walk in the park.

“We were given a skeleton script, which was just a framework of what we can do with the production. However, because the work is devised, we infused our own experiences and ideas just to give it a bit more depth. I remember during our first read-through, I was so excited especially when I realised that the piece requires audience participation and we also get to facilitate. It was my first time approaching this style of theatre so there was a bit of excitement dashed with a drop of anxiety.

“The biggest similarity between the characters in the production is our struggle with voting. The characters start unpacking leadership and looking at different types of leaders and where they are situated in our lives. I relate to this on a personal level because this year will be my first time voting and I am still grappling with which party to vote for. This concept of leadership is one that I am always trying to understand by asking myself questions like, ‘What makes the perfect leader? Was I a good leader when I was head girl? Does my vote matter, will it contribute to bringing in a good leader for the country?”

She said seeing how young minds unpack the idea of leadership and their understanding of it, is what makes the show a must-watch.

“Some of their responses to the questions that we pose give me hope for the future of this country. Another factor that makes me enjoy playing the role is the fact that this work is devised, so it’s really beautiful to see how my contribution in the process ends up affecting the audiences that this piece is performed for.”

One of the biggest lessons she got from the storyline is the fact that leaders do not only exist in politics or managerial positions. They are everywhere, she learned. Dumezweni had to constantly remind herself that she was on stage as she got too carried away with playing herself.

“I had trouble with projection and variation in character. I had to think about how I could incorporate the theatrical without losing the authenticity and my truth. My director also assisted when she came to rehearsals one day with a profound quote by Sanford Meisner that says ‘Acting is living truthfully under imaginary circumstances’. Something in me shifted and I changed my approach to the character, so by adding a bit of imagination and possibility, the theatrical came naturally and I was able to bring my character to life.”

The show premiered in February and will be going on until March at the National Children’s Theatre.

“This is not your typical theatre play where the audience sits down for about an hour and just leaves. This piece requires you to be engaged and open-minded. With this work, we are tapping into the minds of young people and asking them to think deeper about the reality and the future of this country.”

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