Until I afford soap premiere feb 28 at Madsoc Theatre

By Edwin Mauluka

A theatre production ‘Until I Afford Soap’ is set to premiere on February 28 at Madsoc Theatre with performances running from 1^st, 7^th and 8^th March, 2026.

This is an exciting collaborative exchange production by Norwegian playwright Sunniva Roligheten and local artists from Mwezi Arts theatre company.

The play marks Roligheten first full-length theatre production inspired by her encounters while studying in Uganda in 2024.

The play follows four curious children, who despite the terrible smell and condition of the swamps, dare to approach Amos — the frightening man who lives in a shack, and persuade him to share stories from his puzzling life.

“Captivated, they convince him to continue telling them stories, but the children’s laughter fades when Amos finally reveals what truly happened during his university years. The plot explores youth ambition, unemployment, dignity, and the consequences of inadequate sexual and reproductive health rights,” shared Roligheten

More than eight artists have been engaged in the theatre production following wide audition publicity that was shared at the end of last year. The cast is led by Theodore Pleasant Banda, a Malawian Actor who is known for his outstanding roles in Waiting for Godot, Bwabwawala, Nyambose Goes to Town, among other productions.

Banda is joined by other talented Malawian young actors like Duwa Thandiwe Mambo, Tinashe Assah Walani, Theoklaus Mkandawire as well as Exauce Mfuni Ngoy a Congolese young actor based in Dzaleka. Roligheten is co-producing the play with Hazel Musochera, the prolific Producer and Administrator behind Mwezi Arts. 

The play is directed by internationally acclaimed Malawian theatre-maker Stanley Mambo, a dynamic director known for his physical and experimental theatre style. He directed and adapted productions such as State of The Ape Address, Waiting for Godot, La Reigne et le Pintade, Conqured Plans, Zoo Story, Wishes among others.

With two prize winning novels published in Norwegian, Sunniva has contributed to various anthologies. In 2025, she was named one of Norway’s ten most promising authors of under 35 years.

The 2025 Theatre Renaissance Cabaret, an inaugural international festival by Mwezi Arts ignited Sunniva’s vision to produce the play in Malawi and Mwezi Arts shared the vision as an associate producer considering the play as the Madsoc Theatre season opener. The production is billed beyond the Madsoc Theatre as a potential tour in the pipeline.

With its combination of literary recognition and an extraordinary youth ensemble, “Until I Afford Soap” reflects Madsoc Theatre’s role as an essential space for courageous storytelling and cultural dialogue in Lilongwe.