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“This project is
dear to my heart. It is not commercial but we hope the spill over
effect will rub off on the industry,” explained Teju Kareem, chief
executive of Zmirage Multimedia Limited. The venture dear to the heart
of the University of Ibadan Theatre Arts graduate is a three-in-one
initiative to revive live theatre, celebrate Nobel Laureate, Wole
Soyinka, and kick-start Nigeria’s Golden Jubilee in a grand way.

Beginning from
June, ‘Preemptive’, a play written by US-based Niyi Coker and directed
by Segun Ojewuyi, acting and directing teacher at Southern Illinois
University, Carbondale, US, will begin a tour of Barbados, the UK, US
and selected Nigerian cities. The play which emanated from a US
government sponsored workshop on American policies on terrorism,
focuses on inter-racial respect and people’s reactions to the US
government’s measures on terrorism.

The theatre
designer further said of ‘Preemptive’. “It is not only the political
and economic effects of the policies on terrorism but also the cultural
effects. How I talk, dress and speak. How, following the Mutallab
incident, I don’t even want to be known as a Nigerian when I’m passing
Immigration in the US.” The play, he added, has the objective of
“making the policymaker formulates policies that respects human
dignity, culture and consciousness.”

But perhaps the
most important goal for Kareem is its envisaged impact on Nigeria’s
theatre. “We want the play to perform the original role of traditional
theatre in terms of affecting people‘s lives even without losing its
entertainment potential.”

The play will
feature a cast of eight actors, with six of these coming from the US.
“For us, it is about humanity and world peace. The colour of the artist
doesn’t matter. Experience is about theatre as a medium of world
concern,” Kareem said in justification of the transatlantic scope of
the production. The executive producer of ‘Preemptive’ added that
people behind the initiative chose to partner with Southern Illinois
University because of close ties between them.

A fringe production
titled ‘Seven’ will make the round with ‘Preemptive’. Written by Rachel
Hastings, ‘Seven’ is about seven generations of women. It draws from
the past to showcase the fortitude of mothers hurting, healing, loving
and being remembered by their daughters. ‘Preemptive’ will be staged in
Barbados from June 24 to 29; the Shaw Theatre, UK, on July 1 and 2; and
the Tabernacle Theatre also in the Uk. The production will be staged at
the MUSON Centre from July 13 to 15; Cultural Centre, Calabar, on July
20 and 21 and the NUC Hall, Abuja on July 24.

Kongi @76

76 veterans of the
Nigerian theatre will walk the red carpet to celebrate the 76th
birthday of Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, on July 13 when the play is
staged at the MUSON Centre. “We don’t want to wait till the man passes
on, let’s celebrate him while he is here,” Kareem offered in
explanation of the glamorous celebration of Kongi.

Lari Williams, Baba
Sala (Moses Olaiya Adejumo), Ahmed Yerima, Sadiq Daba, Taiwo Ajai
Lycett, Olu Jacob, Bayo Awala, Joke Silva, Bode Sowande, Jimi Solanke
and others will walk the red carpet for Kongi that day. Some TV
stations, Kareem disclosed, have signed on to cover the event.

Financing the show

Kareem also touched
on the financing of the production. He stated that strategic partners
would collaborate with the organisers to raise the about $250,000
needed. His Zmirage Foundation will lead the way by providing technical
support expected to take between 15 to 20 per cent of the budget.
Southern Illinois University, under the aegis of its Africana Theatre
Lab comprising ex and current students of the institution, will finance
the trip of the team from the US while the Shaw Theatre has agreed to a
discount. Theatre Tabernacle will house the cast and crew in the UK for
three days and Nigerian restaurants will feed the cast and crew for
free. “We will give value back to every strategic partner,” Kareem
promised. He is not also afraid of incurring a loss. “We hope to get 50
per cent of expenditure from gate takings,” he stated confidently.

Something for all

The production and
its related activities won’t be about entertainment alone, however.
There is going to be an essay competition on the play and its theme.
The website address where entries will be submitted online will be
announced soon. “We are taking it beyond entertainment to educate and
add value to human life. It is open to everybody, students,
journalists, whoever is interested,” stated Kareem.

The last 15
contestants will get consolation prizes while the first prize winner
will get N100, 000 and a return ticket to watch the production in the
UK. The second and third prize winners will go home with N75, 000 and
N50, 000 respectively and see the play when it tours Nigeria.

A unique reality show will be included in the mix. The last five
finalists will be announced on May 30th and will camped in a house with
poet Odia Ofeimun, culture activist and newspaper editor Jahman
Anikulapo and two other adjudicators. The winner will be announced on
June 5.