Epic Plays to Watch at Duke of Somolu Theatre Festival

Yinka Olatunbosun

To give theatre goers premium entertainment in this period of Covid-19 pandemic, the Duke of Somolu productions has announced a season of epic plays to fire up its 2021 Duke of Somolu Theatre Festival. The multi-cultural productions are based on four original stories of Nigeria’s historical figures the first of these being ‘Ibiom.’ After the box-office success of the Akwa Ibom drama, the other plays ‘Aremu,’ ‘Awo’ and ‘Joromi’ will be performed in compliance with non-pharmaceutical Covid-19 protocols.

Aremu is based on the life of Nigeria’s former President, Olusegun Obasanjo; his mystical birth, vignettes of his childhood and his peasant background. Directed by Prof. Ahmed Yerima, the play is a theatrical account of his civil war years and how he became a prisoner of conscience. A rich cultural showcase of the Egbas and Owu people, the play will be staged at the Agip Recital Hall on July 3, 4, 10 and 11.

Later that month, the play ‘Awo,’ based on the story of one of Nigeria’s leading nationalists and elderstatesmen, Chief Obafemi Awolowo will be performed on July 17, 18, 24 and 25. The play has as its director, Mr Makinde Adeniran, the Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Practitioners.

“Our mission with ‘Awo’ is to re-introduce the dying values of loyalty, integrity, vision building amongst others to a modern-day audience who seem to have lost their way in the fast and seedy lifestyles of modern-day, Nigeria,’’ Joseph Edgar, the CEO, Duke of Somolu Productions.

Later in the year, the play titled “Joromi” which is an exciting drama on the life of the Highlife legend, sculptor, musician, actor and historian, Sir Victor Uwaifo who is expected to make a cameo appearance at the performances.

“The story goes that he met a mermaid at the Bar Beach in Lagos and he held the mermaid captive who begged for her life. He asked for something in exchange for her freedom and she obliged him and part of those things were his guitar and the song Joromi which became a massive global hit. The song remains a classic and has spurned so many creative projects including movies, museums amongst others,’’ Edgar said.

This drama will be thrilling to music lovers as the plot is punctuated with some of his greatest hits. ‘Joromi’ will hit the stage from December 23 to 26.