The birth of a new theatre outfit in town, BEYOND THE MAINSTREAM Storytellers, a new theatre company focused on experimental approaches to storytelling.
Founded by Wakio Mzenge, a revered Voice Over Artist, Screen/Stage Actor, and Theatre/Film Director, Beyond the Mainstream Storytellers has quite an interesting story behind its inception.
Stage performance has been part of Wakio Mzenge’s life for the last 9 years. Wakio has been exploring her skills and talent as a vocalist, voice over artist, screen and stage actor as well as a theatre and film director. In 2022, she was selected among twenty artists to attend ArtXchange residency in Rome.
The group comprised of artists of different disciplines including actors, musicians, poets, visual artists, dancers, photographers, and writers. Their task was to respond to the legendary Michael Angelo Pisteletto’s concept of the third paradise and develop a collaborative installation that comprised of different art forms. This experience opened her eyes to the possibilities of storytelling forms beyond the mainstream and inspired her to start her own production outfit – Beyond The Mainstream Storytellers (BTM). Wakio’s vision is to take surprising and experimental approaches in storytelling as intently showcased in their new production, UJUMBE, that was staged on the 9th of June 2023 at the Goethe-Institut.
A passion and experimental project by its creator, writer and director, Wakio Mzenge, Ujumbe was a performance exploring voice over, silence, and sound effects. The piece was a two hander performed by Wakio Mzenge and adulated actor, Sam Psenjen. Ujumbe, BTM’s maiden performance was produced with support of Goethe-Institut Kenya, through the Nafasi call for 2023, covering venue and publicity support. 
UJUMBE
Synopsis
Rita Renja(Wakio Mzenge),gives an account of her high school experience where she was falsely accused of inciting a strike simply because she was the most popular student. Despite of having a good track record in the school being a CU chairperson, a prefect and spearheading different clubs, the teachers hear non of it, they lean onto the perception that since she was popular, she must have overseen the strike.
This triggers Rita’s outlook of school in general, turning into a rebel. Her grades deteriorate but she starts receiving letters which uplift her, letters from her father, Roger Renja (Sam Psenjen), who is in prison for forgery. After finishing her KCSE examinations, Rita visits her father for the first time since she didn’t know of his imprisonment until the letters started to come in. She struggles to get a hold of him but finally discloses her grades to him, B+.
Elements
Upon entry, each audience member was handed a card to write both their happy and traumatic high school experience. Wakio read the notes on stage and was vocal about how teachers play a vital role in a child’s mindset more so their future, unravelling this topic through direct interaction with the audience in between the piece.
Body movements which were incorporated gave the piece emotional depth especially Roger Ranger’s scenes which soul-stirringly depicting the difficult nature of life in prison.
Wakio Mzenge’s comedic charm as older Rita emanated a lighter feel to the piece, her interaction with the audience gave room for resonance with the characters in the story, one that stood out for me was when actress, Auudi Rowa, who was part of the audience, was unexpectedly invited on stage to be part of a scene, her uncertainty in the whole situation was worth a good laugh. 
Additional voices were comically incorporated by actors, Nungo Marriane, Mwikali Mary, Daniel Orenge and Swaleh Musa.
Behind the curtains was a team of a dedicated crew namely Liboi (Music), Stephen Charles (Technician), Alacoque (Light Design), Iven Mutua (Sound Assistant) and Lorna Lemi (Support system)
Being Beyond the Mainstream Storytellers’ first installation, Ujumbe was a triumphant start of more bolder and more experimental installations to come from the production company. 
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