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Patience Phiri

Own Correspondent

The title could not be anymore self-explanatory. “Naked Girls Reading” brings to the forefront issues of women that are usually hidden and not openly spoken about in an intellectual and sassy way. “Naked Girls Reading” is a cheeky two-women show blending skin and text, which premières tonight and runs until Friday at Theatre in the Park.Written by women, the production voices their stories and anxieties in their professional and private lives. It puts in the open subjects that are usually swept under the carpet or spoken about in hush tones. “Naked Girls Reading” has some darkness, light-heartedness and thought provoking conversations that the audience will find familiarity with. The show of skin is a celebration of real women’s bodies as beautiful in all shapes and sizes.

Writer and director Patience Phiri is a social and creative entrepreneur from Bulawayo and “Naked Girls Reading” is her writing and directing debut. She believes strongly in gender equality, emancipation and empowerment of women.

The production comes to Theatre in the Park courtesy of Rooftop Promotions, a production company that promotes and develops artistic initiatives. By encouraging and supporting freedom of expression, it provides a platform and a forum for community concerns. Rooftop Promotions has been a major developer of Zimbabwean arts since 1986, when its role was to facilitate the expression of the excitement of early independence.

Theatre in the Park is a project that simultaneously connects performance with its roots in traditional community spaces and develops a creative project in the centre of Harare. For 17 years, Theatre in the Park has been one of the most innovative creative venues in Southern Africa.

Despite being affected when its original venue closed down, Theatre in the Park continues to offer outstanding productions at its new Harare Gardens venue that have hosted productions beyond theatre.

Since the new venue opened, it has presented music, dance and visual arts events in addition to exciting theatre productions.