Acclaimed musical Sarafina comes on stage at the Nakuru Players theatre in a venture expected to raise already growing stakes in the filming industry in Nakuru County.
On its re-enactment from a film to a stage play, the South African anti-apartheid musical, will return to pulsate life - this time with actors in their 20s.
Staged by Nairobi Performing Arts studio, the musical film will be converted to a stage play and will star actors bringing out different roles.
“We have been staging shows at the Kenya National Theatre in Nairobi for the past two years. For the first time we are going to the counties after Governor Lee Kinyanjui approached us,” said Nairobi Performing Arts Studio Director Nash Stuart.
Mr Stuart said the county had a good number of artists whom if they get exposure can make it big in the filming industry.
Filming destinations
“Nakuru has great filming destinations, active Players Theatre and artists as well. Through our partnership, we will tap talent by staging more plays here. In Sarafina, the actors will be paid,” he said.
The original Sarafina was staged twice before; in 2018 and in 2003. The film stars a typical high school teen growing up in Soweto under the apartheid regime. She is passionate for liberation and dreams of a bright future.
Since the exit of the legendary cinema halls including The Eros, Odeon and Embrace that defined arts in Nakuru in yester years, theatre in local content is unearthing formerly global filming destinations.
From hosting the Lake International Pan African Film Festivals (LIPAFF), to producing Ole Naibon the movie and the current staging of Sarafina’s rendition, the theatre industry is slowly claiming its place in the arts.
“While trying to market these movie destinations, we realised we had aspiring artists who spend time at the Nakuru Players Theatre,” Nakuru County Chief Officer for Gender, Culture and Social Services Abduba Tume she said.
Ole Naibon, which was shot at Hells Gate National Park and advocates for environmental protection is the first of 12 movies lined up for production in a bid to build capacity among artistes.
In November 2018, over 10 countries converged in Nakuru for the Lake International Pan African Film Festivals, a platform that besides bringing the artists across the continent to interact, also gave a boost to the growing love for theatre.
“Hosting the festivals elevated tourism destinations and gave upcoming artists a chance to interact with colleagues in the continent,” Ms Tume said.
The festivals will open partnerships, with the French Embassy joining in to nurture talent in the animation sector.
The festivals, Tume said also saw the county government sign an MoU with artists to support art.
This year Nakuru will host LIPAFF for the second year in a row.
