June 16, (THEWILL)- Live Theatre Lagos is set to present another Wole Soyinka masterpiece, “The Lion and The Jewel.”
The play will hold at the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture, 133 Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja, at 5pm on Saturday June 19, 2021.
Directed by Kelvinamry Ndukwe and produced by Oluwanishola Adenugba, “The Lion and the Jewel” is a comedy set in the small remote village of Ilujinle.
With happenings over the period of one day, Soyinka masterfully created a deep story of wanton selfish people with ideals that may make or destroy them.
There are three central characters: Lakunle, Sidi and Baroka who are in a triangle of witty, desperate yet harmless adventure to win.
Lakunle has learned the ways of the White man and has been impressed by the developments which, beyond reading in his books, he has experienced first-hand in Lagos the city of magic.
Sidi is the village belle who has enjoyed the prying eyes of men, and the longings of these many men, and has the power to choose who becomes her husband in the end.
And Baroka intends to marry this village belle, and would imply the wisdom that only experience and age can offer.
The performance boasts of a stellar cast including: Timilehin Ojeola, Atilola Omotehinse, Bona Efua, Ekomobong Udonwa, Adejoke Abdulsalam, Paul Origbo, Ropo Ewenla who plays Baroka, Bunmi Sogade playing Sidi, Chukwu Martin playing Lakunle and Diana Agbede playing Sadiku.
Music is directed by Oriyomi Joseph and choreography by Alexandra Agbata.
Adeleke Solanke is the Technical Stage, Set and Light Director and also Stage Manager and he is supported by Endurance Ogunwehinmi and Eferoghene Awusa is the Costume Designer.
The production is made possible with support from Bellanaijaonline, MTN, Seven Up Bottling Company, AccessBank, Guinness Nigeria, Bournvita CreativeCloudHub, R2TV, Africa Movie Channel, AccelerateTV, TrybeTV, Zivangonline , VenturesAfrica and ONTV Max.
Originally premiered in 1959, the play has been selected as part of the reading requirement for Literature in English at the WAEC exams and Live Theatre Lagos has plans to showcase the play to Lagos State Senior Secondary School students preparing for the examination in partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Education.
About the Author
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
