Play On Emir Sanusi To Be Staged In Lagos, Abuja
A play, ‘Emir Sanusi – Truth in Clay’, produced by Duke of Shomolu Productions, is to be staged in Lagos and Abuja in August, according to a statement by the producers.
The Executive Chairman of Duke of Shomolu Productions, Joseph Edgar, signed the statement, a copy of which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on Monday.
It said that the play would depict the lives, drama and intrigues surrounding the dethronement of both Emir Sanusi I and his grandson, Emir Sanusi II, leaning heavily on the eye witness account of the Dogarai (place guards), who served both Emirs.
“The Play will excitedly work very assiduously through the very colourful traditions and culture of the Fulani and other people of Northern Nigeria, in its bid to foster an equivocal retelling of a very compelling story.
“Through some of the most enigmatic storytelling, the play will explosively carry audiences through a voyage of rediscovery, taking them through the sacrifices made by both subjects as they waltzed through a market of misunderstanding leading up to what seemed like a predestined and epochal climax,” the statement explained.
It said that the National Troupe of Nigeria had already endorsed the production and would also be partnering in its execution.
According to Edgar, the former Emir has confirmed his readiness to attend both performances to be held in both cities.
He said that the play would make history as the first co-locational play in Nigeria, if not Africa, utilising different casts in both locations.
The chairman added that the play would be directed by Professor Ahmed Yerima, generally regarded as an institutional pillar of Nigerian theatre.
NAN recalls that Yerima also wrote and directed Duke of Shomolu’s ‘Aremu’, a play that depicted the life of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
The play attracted influential statesman to both the Lagos and Abeokuta showing.
The statement quoted the Managing Director of the firm, Mrs Mofoluwake Edgar, as stating that the outfit had emerged the biggest purveyors of historically-backed stage productions in Nigeria.
“With over 12 productions, including ‘Ufok Ibaan’, ‘Isale Eko’ and ‘Emotan’, to mention a few, our firm continues to push its vision of retelling our national historical stories to a new generation in a firm bid to foster national reawakening using the arts as a strong vehicle of delivery.
“As part of the vision, the firm has pulled in respected directors like Makinde Adeniran, William Benson and Segun Adefila as it pursues its vision of excellence,” it quoted the managing director as saying.
It further quoted her as saying that more than 100,000 Nigerians had physically seen the productions that had thrown up one of the largest collections of theatrical images on the continent.
The statement added that Agip Recital Hall of the Muson Centre in Lagos, and the Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, would host the play.
It further added that the firm would be running a theatre festival in December where it would stage four plays – ‘Ufok Ibaan’, ‘Our Duke Has Gone Mad’, ‘Awo and Ogiame Erejuwa II’.
