The Story of Love
…of God's unfailing love for all people, has been staged in African orphanages and villages, European cathedrals, multiple stages, and the inner-city streets of the USA. It has also been performed numerous times by our arts group in Kaliyeka Township in the languages of Chichewa, Swahili, and English, as well as by our Dzaleka Arts Ensemble in Swahili and Chichewa.
This summer, a new group of young artists in Kaliyeka Township, Malawi, spent eight weeks learning, rehearsing, and then performing "The Story of Love" in various venues. It was an exciting project for many reasons, not the least of which was that, for the first time, The Story of Love's cast and crew would be made up entirely of local Malawian actors, dancers, musicians, and technicians. Another exciting aspect was that performers from the first-ever SOL project in Kaliyeka Township a decade ago returned as leaders, designers, choreographers, and performance coaches on the production team. These talented young men and women have been with Ancient Path since we began the Kaliyeka partnership in 2009 and have been part of this arts journey since they were young children.
It was a busy two months - designing costumes for thirty-nine cast members, finding a tailor willing to tackle such a daunting task, shopping for the right fabrics and props (not to mention 39 pairs of matching dance shoes), building large set pieces, and painting masks. And since we had day-long rehearsals four days a week, this was all accomplished on the days that weren’t spent rehearsing.
Nothing is easy in Malawi, but every challenge is met with joy and resilience. No place to rehearse? No problem, rent a church hall in a neighboring township. Need to transport all the equipment, stage, props, cast, and crew to and from the venue? No problem, rent an open-bed truck and make multiple trips. Need to feed something substantial to a hungry cast and crew? No problem, two women from AP will cook a hot, nutritious meal for 55 people every day - this, in addition to providing meals for over 200 kids in the Agonjetsi program on Wednesdays and Saturdays. But won’t this take too much time and disrupt rehearsals? No problem, the meals are cooked at AP, delivered by car to the rehearsal space along with plates and cups, and served by production team leaders. Every bite is eaten, and every plate and basin is cleaned within the span of 30 minutes. With joy!
Finally, the long days of rehearsal come to an end, and the performances begin. We start on our home turf in Kaliyeka before taking the show on the road to a regional church conference, then to an outdoor community ground, and then deep into the villages for several performances. Some of the cast members have never left Kaliyeka Township, so seeing the beauty of their own country for the first time is an experience they will never forget. Watching the crowds respond to their story, as understandings open and hearts reach toward this God of love and mercy, is equally unforgettable.
The process is always as important, if not more so, than the end result. We spent a great deal of time in conversation over the months, learning and growing together as we told the story. Along the way, these young people began to realize that they are part of the most remarkable love story of all time. They began to think more deeply about who God is and how He feels about them, bringing passion, compassion, and authenticity to each of their performances. And now they are equipped to take it even further, across Malawi and beyond its borders. This is only the beginning!