Mwindo

Mwindo

by Cheryl L. West


Mwindo is an epic Central African tale passed on for centuries featuring heroic beings and fantastical creatures. Mwindo, born as a full-sized boy, is an unwitting threat to his father, a Chief whose heart is corrupted with greed and hatred for the son who will grow to take his place. Mwindo journeys on a quest to battle enemies and overcome obstacles, to triumph and forgive, to bring his people compassion and the richness of joy. With plenty of action and adventure, music and dance, Mwindo teaches us what it’s like to search for and find one’s warrior spirit.

$12.00

Quick Details

  • Type: Play
  • Estimated Run Time: 60-75 minutes
  • Availability: Available for productions worldwide
  • Cast Size: 12 roles | Doubling possible for a cast of 7

Full Details

Roles:

  • Mwindo
  • Chief, Mwindo's father
  • Spider Cricket
  • Cha-Cha, singing hedgehog
  • Mwindo's mother
  • Aunt Iyan
  • Kuti the Serpent
  • Warriors
  • Village Men
  • Suitors

The following resources are included in each performance license:
  • Permission to photocopy the PDF script for your production so there is no additional cost for these assets.

Cheryl L. West

Cheryl L. West's plays include: Something Happened in Our Town, Last Stop on Market Street, Akeelah & the Bee, Mwindo, Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, Addy: American Girl Story, and Pullman Porter Blues. Her plays have been seen in England, Off-Broadway, on Broadway (Play On!)and in numerous regional theaters around the country. She has written TV and film projects at Disney, Paramount, MTV Films, Showtime, TNT, HBO, CBS and is the Webby-nominated writer for the original web series Diary of a Single Mom. Ms. West is the recipient of several awards: American Alliance For Theatre & Education (AATE) Distinguished Play Award (2016), the 2016 Charlotte B. Chorpenning Playwright Award, the Helen Hayes/Charles McArthur award for outstanding new play, the Susan Smith Blackburn prize, an international playwriting award for distinguished new plays, the National Endowment Playwriting Award and the Beverly Hills/Hollywood NAACP Best Playwright Award.

Originally produced in Seattle Children's Theatre’s 2014-15 season

Photos of production at Seattle Children's Theatre

Photos of production at Seattle Children's Theatre

Photos of production at Seattle Children's Theatre

Reviews

“

Truly a play for the whole family, Mwindo is a beautifully written coming-of-age story that teaches the audience not to be afraid of being afraid.

- TeenTix
“

We are reminded that people everywhere have the same choices in how to respond to hurt and rejection. And even if we are not magical children, born of Kahindo, Goddess of Good Fortune, we can still choose love over hate, forgiveness over revenge.

- Seattle's Child