HARARE - Imagine what could happen if dead bodies suddenly rose to protest the way they are being treated at hospital morgues.

The Coup, a stage play written by New Zealand-based playwright Stanley Makuwe, brings audiences face-to-face with problems that surround the dead who fail to receive decent burials.

And because of high burial fees and prohibitive cost of coffins, not factoring in transport and food for mourners, most bodies have remained unclaimed at hospitals resulting in paupers’ burial.

The Coup revolves around a public hospital mortuary where life becomes unbearable and a group of dead bodies take matters into their own hands.

Apart from being food for rats, flies and maggots, the bodies are overcrowded, decomposing, and denied the basic right of a decent burial.  

After deliberations on their own, the dead bodies identify the source of their suffering — a repressive government led by a corrupt dictator.

Led by the young body of a former school teacher, the bodies break mortuary doors down and march to the State House.

They also go after the president’s partners in the leadership matrix whom the dead bodies believe have failed to bring about the much-needed change.

From November 12, The Coup will be going on a national tour that will see it showcasing in most of the country’s provinces kicking off with a performance at Amakhosi Arts Community Theatre in Bulawayo.

The Coup premiered at Theatre in the Park in February this year and looks at the failing economy, demise of the industrial sector and health delivery systems.

It brings into focus the relationship between coalition partners in the Government of National Unity (GNU).

National Arts Merits Award (Nama) 2012 nominee Zenzo Nyathi, 2011 Outstanding Actress Joyce Mpofu, multi-award winner Eunice Tava, 2012 Hifa Theatre 24 Hour Challenge Best Director Charles Matare, multi-talented John Pfumojena and community theatre veteran, Gibson Sarari, also a Nama recipient make up the six-member cast for The Coup.

After every performance, a team of facilitators will engage audiences in a question and answer session.

Daves Guzha, producer at Rooftop Promotions said post-performance sessions have become synonymous with productions hosted by Rooftop Promotions and Theatre in the Park as they promote freedom of expression, where the audience is given the opportunity to contribute by interrogating issues raised during the performance.

“This is our way of strengthening the Rooftop Promotions brand among communities and in line with our motto and vision of providing homegrown artistic initiatives for worldwide consumption.

“We are strong believers in the enhancement of citizen participation to have a better overall brand Zimbabwe. We are extremely thrilled that communities out there can have direct interface with artists they have only read about in the papers,” said Guzha.