Love is in bloom, almost, in Glass Menagerie by Brookhouse School youth
STRAIGHT
PLAYS OFFERED IN PLENTY FROM NOW TILL THE HOLIDAYS
Kevin Kimani, founder of the Kenya International Theatre Festival
By
Margaretta wa Gacheru (posted November 15, 2017)
As
impressive as is the rich array of musical theatre shows over the next
fortnight, the straight plays are also productions not to be missed.
The first
set of weekend performances begin last night at Alliance Francaise and run
almost non-stop all the way through the weekend. That’s because they’ll be part
of the Kenya International Theatre Festival.
KITF is a
festival that feels like it’s premiering this year even though it was launched
a year ago by Kevin Kimani; only he ran the festival on a shoestring in 2016,
out of love for the theatre and a desire to see Kenyan theatre grow beyond
national borders.
This year
Kimani’s aspirations have materialized more substantially although he is still
short of funds. He’s gratefully gotten support from UNESCO which has enabled
him to have three pan-African troupes come to Kenya to perform.
The Ugandan
dance group Black Lace performed last night for the Festival’s official
opening. They will dance again on Sunday at the closing. The South African will
stage Devil’s Disciple both Saturday afternoon and Sunday night, also at the Festival
closing.
Meanwhile,
the Zimbabwean troupe was apparently waylaid by the political disruption in Harare.
But if they arrive in time, they will perform as scheduled.
Tonight at
6pm, Kenyatta University will stage Francis Imbuga’s modern classic, The
Successor. Then on Saturday, KU will also stage Our Husband has gone Mad Again
by Nigerian playwright Ola Rotimi followed by an original play by KCA
University.
Finally on
Sunday, The Mirage will open the afternoon plays at 1pm followed by ‘The Goat
or Who is Sylvia?’ and the closing shows will be given by the Ugandans and the
South Africans.
The
following weekend, Ian Mbugua (who will be fresh from performing in Aperture
Africa’s Robin Hood the Musical) presents his theatre students from Brookhouse
School in the Tennessee Williams modern classic, The Glass Menagerie. Directed
by Susan Bantu, the show runs from November 22nd through Saturday
November 25th.
Finally, by
popular demand, Prevail Arts Production is bringing back Martin Kigondu’s
original play, What Happens in the Night on December 2nd at Daystar
University. The auditorium at Daystar is easy to find and the show is not
confined to students only. The show stars Chi Chi Seii, Nick Ndeda, Shivishe
Shivisi, Mourad Sadat and Salim Gitao, directed by Martin Kigondu.
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