 I think ni mezwaya films, napenda films, I don't know Kwa cha to negatisha wukisha wukisha? Ebu ni wukisha ni, juli ni meriale is that You know this place are not coming cheaply anymore Kitabu, we used to think that place were 200 shillings 300 sign on a plane 100 regular tickets Ni kwa like Tuli fi kapasi ku gani But you are welcome So I don't know where I want to start from Let's just start from the production manager Tell us about the cliff Hi, my name is Berry Lawando I'm the production manager in sickness and in health It's a play that we are planning to do next weekend 10th and 11th This play basically speaks about cancer And it is in two folds The person suffering from cancer and also the side of the caretaker You see often times it's more of the person who has the illness Instead of the person who is actually taking care of this person And we saw like apart from the articles that are talked about on air And the story is not so much There's not like so much detail and awareness into it People feel like cancer is a death sentence But there are people who have actually survived it And more awareness we create about it Because they are like different type of cancer And their causes are different But the more we talk about it The more we will know when I'm told I have cancer Is not a death sentence But there's something I can actually do about it So we decided just apart from the articles And the news that are being brought about it Let us put it as a play Because people actually resonate with what they see What is performed at that particular time And that is why we decided to do it in the month of love In the month of love so that we can actually have that conversation Yes, we understand it's Valentine's But there's that conversation of There's someone whom I lost maybe at this particular time And then there's someone who got healed at this particular moment And also remember, in sickness and in health Are vows We took that line from the vows And we wanted to make it as relatable as possible Because that is why we decided not to call it cancer per se But in sickness and in health You see like you have related to it as Hini vows mahali So it's just that in general What came your Because you're the actress I believe the lead actress No, supporting So what came to your mind when you first saw the script The same thing that came to yours I was like this is a love story What is happening here So when I went down to read the script And to actually conceptualize all that in my mind I realized that it's much deeper Than just those vows And it's actually about staying And sticking with this person In sickness and in health No more to pay a synopsis You've told us what they mean It's about play I need to remind myself that it's a play You've told us what the play is about But I feel like Don't tell us the synopsis You know the kasturi Romeo Meet this Juliet They fall in love And they are happily ever after In sickness and in health I will try by not letting all the information I know Of course let's not to create a cutie So the story is about There are two individuals There's a lady and a man A lady lost the mum through cancer And then the guy The father has cancer In denial with the death Of the mother And then she meets this guy The father is going through cancer And then him Just the idea of the father is going through cancer He's like Let me separate myself from this person So they cannot actually get it Because you see we understand it can either be hereditary Or what type of view So he distances himself Make her career out of it Become a journalist To get findings on cancer But not reporting From a point of My father's side But it's like maybe a vengeful type of it To try and expose The things that the father never got At that particular time So one time he goes out to just have his fun time And then meets a bitter girl Who really loves to sing But But the best friends Who pushes her to do it And this is where She meets the man And the story starts But now the twist in this thing Is The guy gets cancer At the end of it So now what happens Since this lady is still in denial With the mother's Ni ni cancer And then this guy is also in Some bit of denial Yat anajua babaki And anything that they had So when this guy gets cancer What happened? My night is shining armor You have cancer So come and see now what happens after that Whatawambia kwenya Tickets zinatoka You grab your ticket But let me just ask How did you You're a psychologist So I will be coming back to this Let's pin that But as an actor As an actress In this particular play How did you feel Your role fits Into the entire script Well She had mentioned that I'm actually a supporting actress So I helped Build the character of the main girl Who is going through a lot of pain And she's in a lot of denial About what has happened Because of her mum So I feel my role in this play Is to push the story Father in father Of course there is going to be a lot of love And a lot of loss And a lot of heartfeltness In the whole play So my role is to push The idea That the director had That the scriptwriter had forward So putting that in context Because the play depicts Amenance we are having Like a problem we are having right now In the society How did you feel How real was that role You know the supporting role Of someone supporting someone Who is going through this issue Because there is someone at home Maybe and I feel like A very close dear person To them is going through cancer They are not able to Pradly go through the emotions So you having been Near someone who was going through that How real is that compared to Now putting in The psychological aspect of it How is it Putting that into a real life setting Alright so your Question is two part With the first part first It's very For me first I found it very educative Because you see art is meant to entertain Also educate So I've learned things from this character That I didn't even know people who are going through cancer Are going through So it made me very empathetic about this And I saw that this is actually It's much more difficult than we Realize in our minds So yeah there's a lot of pain There's a lot of financial burden There's a lot of things that we're going to be Discussing in the play and as Beryl said It's all about bringing awareness And causing that awareness to people So understand that this disease First of all there's still a lot of stigma Around people going through cancer So we need people to understand That it's actually not that bad It's not a death sentence And you can empathize with the people That are going through them So yeah it's very real and it's very eye opening To anyone from this side Sisi when you will be bringing out that content And for the one that's also observing it Beryl let me ask you How do you As a production manager I need to keep providing myself This is a play I think your part We are doing well We are doing well But how do you feel You've been able to Of course the play is not yet out Like it's going to be out over the weekend But how do you feel Knowing or having gone through the production process Do you feel like you've achieved the Target of creating the play In the first place I feel so because First of all we have a very emotional script writer So the moment we were starting this play What I think I had read Before people read I didn't feel it But now during the reading session And the emotions that came out of it I was touched Because it was like really nilikwanagus bands And then now looking at the process And the types of conversations we are having I started looking at How it is going to actually affect The actors And truth be told The actors now where they are And where they were while we are starting It's different I know they might not see What I'm seeing from this side Of me having to run the whole thing But I have seen changes I have seen discussions In like different part of it And I believe We are at the tail end We have not See kumalizu sayana lazima tugeze kidogo kidogo But Tu kembua ke shoku na kazi We will definitely put up an amazing Amazing show Amazing What goes through the mind of Mentally what happens to the family Of people dealing with cancer One I think it's Kwanza because this is something that's not It's common but it's not as common as People think So people get diagnosed very late You start experiencing symptoms You're like ah ini homa tu Ini tumbo tu na numa So people get diagnosed much much later Something that would have been diagnosed much earlier Inakwa diagnosed much later Because you assume that it's not So that it comes as a shock To most of the family members Because like higher You mean all this time this was cancer So when that happens even to the person Experiencing the cancer themselves Because they imagine that oh my goodness Now this is the end for me This is it So it's a turmoil For both the one that is experiencing the cancer And for the family Because you imagine cancer treatment is not cheap The medicine they have to take is not cheap And it drains you It drains you physically It drains you emotionally It drains you financially So there's a lot of this things That we need a lot of support From the community at large So yeah it's not easy But it's draining for everyone that is going through it Now that's for the people around this person So what does cancer do Emotionally and mentally To the patient To the patient So one, emotionally Physically we already know that this growth Happening in your body There is like What are they called Tumas that are happening in your body So that you're already experiencing physical pain So when you're experiencing physical pain That means your heart is also not okay So your mind is also not okay So there's a lot of stress And you also feel as the patient Sister I'm badening my people What atuaab Especially for these families That are not very well to do ya So they are thinking Pesaya kwenda kimo therapy in atuaab Pesaya kwenda you know All those kinds of treatment That they need to go for So it's draining for everyone Especially for the patient So you can imagine They are thinking Oh my goodness Now I'm starting to be a bad And now everyone hates me And the other thing That happens to them psychologically Is they isolate themselves Because now if they want to feel I am not a burden to anyone So what do I do Let me isolate myself Nisiwa sumwe So that ends up You know that's why you find people Mtu akona cancer Then akona depression Akona other mental health issues Because of this cancer Feel like You want to say something Nive feel una Una getting to by nini I actually related it Coz it was in one way or the other Even the actors You can find someone Has either been around someone Who had cancer Coz I personally had someone Who died through cancer Oh sorry And it took Like a different toll on us And now looking At her the way she was going through it Coz there were like days She will just tell us Chana nini tunamini Coz and I feel now I can't do anything by myself Nini kwa baden I can't let you people go And then it was in a during Mde mukiwa ele eja 20 You do not want to take care of people So she could feel that She was denying us Certain opportunities For us to go out And for me I think I gathered from that point That the mental part of it Maybe might have contributed To how fast she left At that particular time Coz it wasn't easy Even the drugs That they take at that particular time The type of food they eat And I don't know There was a lady we were speaking to And they said The moment someone starts treating you Kama maiai because you're ill It kills you because now You start feeling like You have lost the will to live You've aroused a thought in my mind Like a question in my mind That I'm like Do I ask you right now Do I ask you later But let me Because it has come up right now Let me just ask you right now What do you wish Now having gone through The process of taking care Of someone Who's gone through cancer What will you wish That cancer patients would know From a perspective ya People around them You know there's that part Nye mimi nim gonjwa But see Understand wene piawewe Una wukona issues Like you know There's that part of me Being sick But there's also that part of me Understanding that Matches nimi mimi nim gonjwa Piawewe wukona Kuna I think what I'd say is Cause you know I might not understand What you're going through But the fact that I am there Should maybe be appreciated Because I am trying Like I am trying In my point I'm trying to do to you What I think At that particular time Is right or what I feel Is right cause human Means we tend to Due to people that which we expect So maybe when that is happening If you're not comfortable Maybe find a way to gently say it Cause there's some bitterness That also comes from the patient At that time And the more I take in The more I will particularly Explode at some point Cause I'll have to jifungia jifungia So maybe try and communicate more It might be hard I understand Cause even you don't understand What's happening in your body But let's try And just make the communication more If you don't want me to talk And just hold you Let me know I need the holding And not the talking Like if you don't want me To bimbeleza you Or do this and that Maybe steer me to that direction So that I can stop doing that Which is bugging you Cause I do not know I am also a human being Trying to just learn And understand in this situation How do we deal with How would What would you advise People dealing with cancer That is both patients And caregivers To deal with the emotional Termoel and mental issues They go through I think what Beryl has said Is very eye opening And I think that's what Cancer patients And those that are the caregivers Around the cancer patients should do Communication should be very Consistent Between the two parties Because you don't want to Feel like And you also don't want the person Taking care of you feeling like Are you just about to die So that there needs to be Constant and consistent communication With both parties So that you know This is how I'm feeling At this particular time This is what I'm going through And the other thing is to also go see Professionals Like mental health professionals Psychologists People like those who can help you process This entire journey Because it's not an easy journey It's a journey that causes pain To both the patient And the caregivers The ones giving them that support And that care So there needs to be that consistent And a constant communication And that emotional Cushion for both of them So they feel it's a safe space For us to talk about this And that's why We're actually holding the play That it's not going to be a difficult conversation To have anymore It is difficult as is So how can we as artists Make it easier for everyone So yeah Communicate Make sure you're dealing with your emotions Regularly Don't stifle your emotions Because when you do That means you're causing baggage Now siku moja You'll bust out You'll go like Ni niata You don't care about me But the thing is The people actually do care about you And as the ones That are giving care to these people You also need to make sure You're very empathetic Because if you're unwell For instance Kutua kikuja tuwa na kwangaliya Uta make it Isn't it what you know You feel very discouraged So you need to be strong And take this person as they are Kimu rumia Sana peia tanzaku jirumia So just take them as the way they were Have you seen someone who has a cast Kwa mugu maybe amifujika mugu Hawa takangi ushindo kim Uta mugu ka Una mocha tu ako na crach Or whatever like Atende liya kutembe asu Treat them Try to treat them The way they were before Don't let your cancer Ikwe at the fove of your mind Ati oh my gosh Sasa uu ni kwen da I know Because maybe I think I don't like Do I like staying with people Who are sick I'm not sure Because I'm the wishy type I'm sasa Uku usawa Uku premaji Nukwe soa da Uchakula ni ni I'm those ones I think I avoid staying With people who are sick But So it's good to be aware If you're aware That's the kind of person you are Then you're on the right track To changing Or modifying that behavior So all of you need to be Very aware of what this is about So where you need to be Talked to Mdwe This is what we are anticipating Their health might actually deteriorate It might get better So all those things All those expectations You need to have them Before Before They would do what to expect You've raised an important Point to note Which I want to Probably ask Should we give Canceling To both patients And caregivers Of cancer You know Once someone is diagnosed Do you think it is important To call the entire People who stay with this person Plus this person Who is going to come to the doctor And say This person is going through this These are the changes You will experience This is what happens And this is Like isn't of it Because I feel like Doctors just throw Diagnosis on your face And then they leave you To deal with it What happens to you After that diagnosis Is your problem Who is going through this Madam To have HIV You know At least My question is How important is it That we have Canceling sessions Between patients Caregivers And the doctors That is Even if it's not the doctor Themselves Hospitals Have a canceling wing It's very important And I think this We are right at the center Of establishing this change You see how it was Kitambo with HIV To Akiquada Before you are tested What happens You go for pre-test Canceling Then post-test canceling So then the same thing Should be done for cancer Because it's not something easy Back in the day When people used to be diagnosed With HIV While you're going Into an enda And a jiwa Stuff like that The same we have had About cancer patients And after the diagnosis Has come there Like you know what I will not manage this So yeah It's important for canceling To happen But in the same way That HIV patients are treated Disclosure is also dependent On the client The person Yeah So they are allowed to Disclose at their own time But as professionals They need to encourage them To disclose Ma pema Ma pema is your best Disclose haraka So that they are able To get the support That they need Even from their loved ones So canceling is very necessary Do you want to address What they are about To deal with I think I saw a movie The other day I watched Nili Wutha Yeah I still belong to that We are not judging Please don't judge They are very nice They help They help Thank you Someone at least understands me now I don't suffer Anyway I feel like These are conversations That we are bringing Which is a good thing For creatives Like you Bringing out Some of these patinent issues Because what I am just trying to relate What she is saying This lady Suffered from cancer For a very long time She had her best friend They spend every day with She has a god daughter That They are so tightly knit with She has a boyfriend None of these people Knows that she has cancer And she has been living with them And then now One day when One achana na chaliake I am a pigamandu ruku You know the way she She was just Making a lot of noise And then that's when She has an attack And they take her to the hospital And now the doctor has To tell her To tell them that This person Has cancer And she is suffering How important is it That patients disclose? It is important But I think One downside thing We have with the testing Of cancer if we may Like go back to dogo Is Many patients Wana patika nangana Ikiwa at a later point Because If you look at it Even like in our play We have highlighted it The testing period Kuna zile zene una patiwa E nyesi ohio So it's That's actually something That we struggle with And I hope that with time And how things are evolving We will definitely get there But it is important To disclose to you all We try and Kabit mapema Because you see now At the last stage When it comes It's not only a shock To the patient But also to the people Around you And remember When people around you Are shocked The help is actually even Harder Because now Imagine best friend The lady you have said And then there's the daughter Who's another lady And ladies to na jijua Emotions run wild So like By the time you're telling Me today I will not seek For a logical solution Right now And we will feel Like everyone is An enemy And I want to Be in a state To live But time is going So maybe it's Let's create an environment Where I can easily share And you can easily share And this is like From small talks over Today I feel like this Tomorrow I feel like this And you know again We have something Disposal sorry That can either Lead you astray Or help you out Social media I will look at this And look at Ah Do he Indian Is in your symptoms So nizakwa nahi Nianze kujitibu na tunisifai So it's important And another thing Let's get checked I think To Lijiambia Your parts I know To Lijiambia We were seated We were like Was it like five ladies After discussing The whole script And we were like We saw a screen And you're like Where But it is because of the It's like Kumbu wendo kapimu Na It is because of the stigma That comes with it Because utambiwa Even if Siuhiyo kupimu Ii utatoka safi But There's a comment That will later demoralize you Nuna wuloli say Makuna tuile wa denye Dokia ta kurushi And then Ubakia punashindo So sana what next You do not understand If I'm not a Medical practitioner It doesn't help me I mean Actually when you put Ya pressure So sana nanzakwa Overthink It may be something May need So Let's surround ourselves With people Even if Okay God forbid If I am the one in that state I should surround myself With people who will help me Understand And I should also be willing To listen And understand Because environment Like our environment matters It really really matters Let me ask you As a psychologist How do we deal with this Because I don't want to be I don't want to be screened Because Kukunaile mentaliti nani Kwanini Uno na venye Uki anaku pimo HIV You know you don't have HIV You probably You've probably not been intimate But this is that thing That tells you Ya don't care Let me Nipime ni kama muna pima waatu You know But now there is that Mentality ya Una pimo HIV So Kunaile mentaliti We save ourselves from this mentality Ya What if naji jinx I am inviting this to myself Alright I think the only way The only way I would say Would Work The only plausible way I would think of is Do it scared And Cancer see Vituza Wale It can affect anyone And you see At this point We don't exactly know nini Of course there are few things here And there Zanyunambua Or if you eat processed meat If you do what But there is no mara genetic But there is no Particular thing Ya ni haatu jajua Exactly what this thing Is caused by So first you need To get Over The internal stigma Because you see Wewa monewa na Nani ki jipata na yo Like nani ki So it's It's a conversation That you should have With yourself Daily You know what It's actually not that bad And The sooner I find out The better Because that means I can start treatment Ali if at all kuna kitu The way you've said Siya tisisam tuafkiri Oh my goodness Nimeji jinksasa Inanda kuskri niwa Andyo ipatikane That doesn't have to be the case Ya So you need to consciously Tell yourself That ni nanda tu nijue The same way we do For HIV Ni nanda tu nijue Haliangu To know If there's anything That I need to do So I think There is no Short cut Ni tu ujiyongela And also surround yourself Like people that Think positively About this thing People that are not Going to stigmatize Like Have you Especially we ladies There's a certain age Mutua na fika We need to go Get screened For breast cancer So if you're with someone Who thinks mimi Hiyo mambo siwe zifanya Then that means That you want to Be the change That you want to see Hapanje So if you want something To be done Jongela shetu It's not going to be easy But it's a necessary Step for you to take Amazing So back to the film What was the highest Point of path film? The play I thought I was doing well I thought I was I am still doing well The play With the scriptwriter You can never tell The high and the low Because He's an emotional Physical guy Naku mu emotional Naku mu emotional Nizanku na bayaki Physically he's not emotional But how he writes his script We will say Therapistwake na kongana kazi So I think I would say is How you relate With the script And that is when You will actually personally Pick the highest point Or the lowest point If you're someone Who loves to Like Go down to the sad emotions And you connect to them That will be your highest If you love Comic relief And you connect to that person You will actually go with it Because it has like balanced emotions Here and there But for me the highlight would be Relating the vows of In sickness and in health With the temporary time That we are living in And then now connecting it to cancer Because as we were like Even making the poster We were looking at it Like let's not call it Cancer to scare people away Because you know when you do Say cancer people know That haa haa haa To nanda screening Nakilakitu na nima lessons So we were like Let's make Like a poster That will make you relate With the in sickness and in health Particularly cancer In this day and age And have this conversation And then even the way This script is scripted Is not particularly Yes the cancer disease Is in the script But also the cancers around us The family that betrays you The friend that takes away The heart breaks that you have The large life that She's playing an interesting role The life that we want To live here and there But again it brings like A crack in you So relating all these four things At the same time Was a highlight for me That's what I definitely love What was your highlight? She said such profound things I'm living at the script different I'm like is that the script? Did we read the same thing? I know My highlight is Honestly the entire script I have not interacted with something This heartfelt Before something this In depth So I'm very excited To be a part of this Wonderful project Any You should come see the play I hope you will be there On the depth That we're going to go in And the awareness That we hope to bring out To the people My high is that This is a topic That ought to have been Spoken about Kitambo But I'm glad we're doing it now It's the right time for it What hope your audience Will get from the play? I hope they will understand The caregiver And understand the patient And the conversation will Just not stop When we talk about it now Let it continue because We hope to resonate with people More and more and more So even after the play I hope the society Will ease in on people I hope the conversation Will be easier And I hope also We'll understand on how to Just relate whether you have it You don't have it That's it That's just the highlight for me That's what I want people to take home Yes, psychologist As we are winding up this conversation Tell a caregiver something Tell a cancer patient something Someone woke up They're battling mental health They're battling emotional turmoil They don't see tomorrow They don't know They don't even have the strength To push through today Alright So let me start with The patient You're not alone There's people around you That are... Oh, yeah You're not alone There are people that are willing To support you only if you speak out Don't isolate yourself thinking Oh my goodness This is something that only I am facing No, you're not the only one That's going through that And there is always At the end of the tunnel Just because it's... They say that it's darkest before the dawn So don't think that Just because it's very dark right now There's no hope at the end So, yeah Hope is Ha pombele Do not despair You're not the only one That's going through this And find someone That truly cares about you Open up your heart to them And they will listen to you They will give you the support that you need For the caregiver Be very empathetic Osikuwa wo ishe wo ishe About the person that is going through What they are going through So, just love them The way they are Meet them where they are at And find a way to resonate With what they are going through Just be empathetic to them Yes Any other thing you'd want us Before you tell us Where we are getting the tickets Masimayote But It's a journey Life has its ups and downs And how they come Let's take it with strides I as a caregiver here I'm here to help you manuva The process As the patient I am here To also help people around me Understand what's happening So, we are in this together I might not know What is in store for me But we are in this together And let's just communicate And create a better space For all of us So, where can we get the tickets? Tickets are at Mook.com Africa Singles now Are at 1300 Couples at 2400 That's advanced At the gates Singles are at 15 And couples are at 2500 These are combo tickets For like 5 people Or rather 6 At 11000 Run, run and get And also we are having a flash sale This weekend So, look out for that We are going to have an amazing time Don't miss The show is on the 10th And 11th of February At Kenya National Theatre Each day 2 shows One at 3pm And another one at 6pm For any information There's like a number down there You can call And we'll definitely help you out Amazing Thank you so much Thank you for making time Thank you Umotwambia When you are Ni ni ni wabi? Yes, Kenya National Theatre Ok Okumbim Dogo Ni ni ni ni ni ni ni ni ni ni ni ni ni ni ni ni ni ni ni ni ni nini But thank you so much Thank you for your time Thank you for coming Thank you for taking to us You such a vibe So, I feel like we are going to have cancer You know what I mean We are going to have those sad vibes We are going to have cancer I can't wait And I can't wait And you know that is how we actually need To make the conversation, right? I know That's the same way We need to talk about cancer Whether it's with your loved ones With your family With your friends Make it a conversation That's interesting You don't have to wait To remember Be self aware I think every time we do strength of a woman I love doing take home My take home today Be self aware Last week, tu di seima So I will still repeat the same thing We said last week But now bring it to this context Measure Ya Did I direct translate? Wait yourself We get to give you good vibes In this conversation Please So as I finish this conversation I want to tell you something Way what you can take Way what you can take Be self aware Cancer is not Is not And I insist Is not a death sentence It's nothing to be ashamed of It's nothing to shy away from If you have it You will get through it If you don't have it Take care of yourself If you have a loved one Who's facing Or rather going through this challenge Soldier on It will be better Better days are coming That is the strength of a woman