Zimbabwean theatre company, Grassroots, presents a show combining succulent, sun-drenched vocal harmonies with wonderfully choreographed dances that has been put together around the idea of celebrating African culture. Whilst this in itself is not a particularly revolutionary or ground breaking concept, the troupe are determined to demonstrate how art can be used to make societal changes for the better, working with schools and other programmes educating people on the reality of HIV and AIDS. From the moment the first note is uttered, the audience at Paradise in Augustine’s are utterly enraptured, drawn immediately into a world full of tangible warmth, where the voices and the personalities of the cast glow as vibrantly as the terracotta sun of their backdrop. The story of young lovers unfolds through a fusion of traditional Zimbabwean dance and music. Each one of the cast members is in possession of a strong and luscious voice in their own right but it is in the times when all five voices blend together that Africa, Heart and Soul becomes simply magical. The sparse instrumentation allows for the songs to remain resonant and prominent, with the universality of the feelings often transcending any potential language barrier. The performance is truly a testament to the beauty that can be found in simplicity. Passionate and uniquely soulful, the audience are urged to ‘invest in love’ by the story’s wrinkled and wise onlooker come narrator. However, at times this moral epicentre comes across in an almost aggressive manner, with it being bellowed from the side of the stage, detracting from the gentle and tender romance that is supposedly being celebrated. The energy displayed by the members of Grassroots in nothing short of remarkable, the frantic pace of their bodies is charismatic and compelling. Moreover, there is an obvious joy that effervesces throughout the performance, which resonates amongst the audience.
