2024 in review: The year in theatre

Kenya National Theatre's new look. (George Orido/Standard)

It was a robust year at the theatre front, witnessing plenty of theatre works on stages across the country despite the decline in the economy.

Prevail Presents, a theatre production company, garnered the Best Director and Best Producer (Martin Kigondu), Best Playwright (Dr Fred Mbogo), and Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Lead Role (Justin Mirichii) at this year’s Kenya Theatre Awards for the play “They That Have Missing Marks Shall Not Graduate”.

At Alliance Française Nairobi, Braeburn Theatre, and in hotels in Nanyuki, the Prevail Presents put on a production, Sanctuary, a sci-fi romance play set in 2050.

At Ukumbi Mdogo at the Kenya Cultural Centre, they staged a poetry concept show, “Womine” (the word derived from the words ‘woman’ and ‘mine’), that speaks against gender-based violence and femicide. “Womine” will be on stage again at Braeburn on December 12. They are presenting “Sonnets and Scenes” by Shakespeare on November 29 at Alliance Française.

The Producing Artistic Director for Prevail Presents, Martin Kigondu, noted a busy year this was with political shows like “Tom Mboya” by Too Early for Birds, “Lwanda Otero” by Chatterbox, “Sarafina” by Stuart Nash, and “Dedan Kimathi” the musical getting critical acclaim. He equally pointed out the resurgence of two-hander or two-person plays like “Sanctuary”, “In Other Words” by Ian Mbugua, and “Dampened Spirits” by John Wasonga Ogutu.

“For the new year, I hope to see more people show up to watch plays. I expect to see more political shows for there is a sense of civic awareness and engagement with people more willing to share what they feel about politics. I also hope to see more poetry shows,” he says.

Dr. Fred Mbogo, playwright, actor, director, and university lecturer in theatre arts, wrote “They That Have Missing Marks Shall Not Graduate”, “Eulogy of a Neat Man”, and “Sometimes a Man Needs to be Heard”, which were staged this year.

“The theatre scene is strong despite a slow economy. This is inspiring to see as the theatre is where you find the spirit of performance alive,” says Dr. Fred.

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Dickens Olwal, Program and Operations Director of Kenya International Theatre Festival (KITFEST) observed a growing theatre ecosystem with the emergence of new talents, theatre companies, and theatre works across the country.

“The shows that stood out for me are “Tom Mboya” by Too Early for Birds and “Lwanda Otero” by Chatterbox,” she says.

Gathoni Kimuyu, producer for Too Early for Birds said that the biggest achievement for them was getting new audiences. Their play, “Tom Mboya” had a rerun in October and November.

“This is the last time we are staging the show with the current set of actors. Generally, there is a growing trend of people staging different types of plays every month,” says Gathoni.

Crossing over to the Nakuru Players Theatre is celebrating its 75th year with a 10-day festival with theatrical performances, dance, music, film screenings, workshops and masterclasses, modelling gala nights, poetry and spoken word, and community engagement.

“This festival will highlight the role of Nakuru as a UNESCO Creative City of Folk Arts and serve as a cultural bridge, bringing together artists, creatives, and audiences from Nakuru and beyond,” says play director Barbushe Maina at the Nakuru Players Theatre.

The Nakuru Players marked Kiswahili Day and World Arts Day in support of the African Union and UNESCO agendas, respectively. For performances, the theatre had the productions “Boomerang”, “Birthmarks”, “Dear Charles”, “Bila Chao”, and “Kifo cha Mende”, among others. The Creative Art Spaces in Kenya (CASiK), a program by the Alliance Francaise Kenya and the Embassy of France, held tours of plays on various stages, including the Nakuru Players.

At the Little Theatre Club (LTC) in Mombasa, they are commemorating its 70th year. Early this year, they received a grant of Sh. 1.2 million for the Nafasi Co-Production Fund from the Goethe Institut Nairobi this year, which went to the Saka Talent initiative. The LTC also had comedy shows, stage plays, and storytelling shows. Other theatre spaces in Mombasa that staged plays include Swahili Pot Hub, Jukwaa Arts, Alliance Francaise Mombasa, and Tononoka Social Hall.

The Kenya National Theatre hosted a total of 205 plays, 18 poetry and comedy performances, and 36 concerts at their main auditorium, Ukumbi Mdogo, and Cheche Gallery.

Kevin Kimani Kahuro, Manager of Programs and Business Development at Kenya Cultural Centre stated that not just Nairobi but other counties have shaped up the theatre scene this year due to concerted efforts from stakeholders at the national, regional, county and local levels to bolster resources and support for the slowly rising theatrical endeavours across the nation.

Kevin took notice of areas such as Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Eldoret witnessing noteworthy theatrical activities, underscoring the decentralization and democratization of theatrical engagement.

“The burgeoning theatrical scenes in locales such as Taita, Lamu, Machakos, Meru, Kiambu, Nanyuki, Limuru, Kajiado, Thika, Siaya, Migori, and Nyeri attest to the widespread support and enthusiasm for the arts, reflecting positively on the overall theatrical landscape of Kenya,” says Kevin.