We caught up with writer and performer Chiedza Rwodzi to talk about her debut Edinburgh Fringe show, Strangers & Revelations, an emotionally charged two hander taking place at theSpace@Surgeons’ Hall. For tickets head to https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/strangers-and-revelations
What inspired you to write Strangers & Revelations and explore themes of identity and shared heritage through a first-date scenario?
I’ve always been a reflective thinker, deeply curious about people, life, and the world around me. Writing is one of the ways I process that, a way to interrogate what I observe in everyday life, experiences, and the nuances in between. Strangers & Revelations grew out of that curiosity, my own lived experiences, moments of trauma, and the desire to understand how people, especially those different from me, make sense of the world. As a Zimbabwean who’s lived in the UK for over a decade, I’ve had to confront questions around identity, faith, trauma, and belonging. This play gave me the space to explore those questions through characters who are navigating similarly complex terrain. At the core of it all, I wanted to anchor the story in love because what is life without it?
How does your own experience as a Zimbabwean living in London shape the story you tell in the play?
Living in London as a Zimbabwean has given me a unique perspective,a deep empathy for the kinds of characters I write about. While our experiences may not be identical, I understand the emotional landscape they move through; navigating life in a land that might feel foreign, or a land you need to adapt to or learn to call home. That duality of navigating or bargaining between worlds is something I understand. It’s definitely shaped how I approach this story. My experience has helped me to flesh these characters into more layered individuals whilst also revealing their vulnerabilities, and the challenges of constantly negotiating who they are in relation to where they are.
What significance does the setting of Malcolm’s household play for the narrative and the unfolding of the characters’ revelations?
Malcolm’s house functions as more than just a physical setting, it’s symbolic. It raises questions about what “home” means and whether it’s a place of safety or discomfort, intimacy or exposure. As the characters begin to open up and reveal deeper truths, we realise the house holds more weight than we initially think. It becomes a place of unravelling, of self-confrontation, a channel for everything that unfolds between them.
Strangers & Revelations premiered at the Kenya International Theatre Festival. How did that experience shape or influence the show’s development?
I was incredibly honoured that KITF selected the play. Taking my very first full-length work to Kenya was such a meaningful experience. Although the story is set in the UK, the characters are African.Presenting the play on the continent brought new resonance, even though it wasn’t in Zimbabwe where the characters are specifically from, the African roots of the characters still echoed through. Being back in Africa allowed me to hear the play through a different cultural lens. The feedback I received from the audience and peers was invaluable, it affirmed some things and also pointed me to areas of growth. More than anything, the festival was a nurturing and creatively rich environment, which is a real gift for any emerging writer.
What advice would you give to emerging playwrights from underrepresented backgrounds trying to tell their own stories?
Believe in yourself and in your voice. Before anyone gives you permission or validation, you have to be willing to bet on yourself. You don’t need to feel like the best writer in the room but having value for yourself is key. Value yourself enough to start. Put pen to paper and let opportunity meet you along the way.
There are also free resources out there too, from community networks, books to online platforms, whatever you have access to, no matter how small, can be the foundation for your next step. It’s about progress not perfection.
Don’t give up on your dreams but do stay open to the unexpected ways they might unfold. The path can be tough, especially for those of us navigating systems not entirely built with us in mind. I’m still learning too, but I’ve found the more you choose yourself and stay committed to the path then the more those opportunities aligned to your vision seem to find you. Keep going.
And finally, if Zodwa and Malcolm were to go on a second date, where would you send them?
Definitely a romantic boat ride on the Zambezi River, serene, beautiful, and full of mystery.