Double Award Winning Play Hits Abuja: Meet the Actors

Coming to Abuja this December is a thrilling stage performance of double award winning play 54 Silhouettes written & directed by Africa Ukoh. The play won the 2011 BBC African Performance 1st runner up prize and was one of 30 creative works selected for the 2012 Stratford East/30 Nigeria House prize.

Now, in 2013, after a premiere performance in Jos, Plateau state, which received very positive reviews, African Renaissance Theatre & Entertainment is set to enthrall audiences in Abuja with a performance of 54 Silhouettes.

And who will be the creative talents lighting up the stage? Well, meet the actors:

Venue: French Institut, Abuja, Wuse 2 (Beside Mr. Biggs)
Date: 5th & 6th December
Time: 6pm (pre-show entertainment), 7pm (main show)
Tickets: N2000

Costumes and accessories by ONTOP Apparels, a leader in top quality fashion.
Photography by Victor Audu from VIA Concepts.

Related stories:
A.R.T announces performance of double award winning play 54 Silhouettes in Abuja.
How creative are you? Put your imagination to the test with A.R.T’s Creative Interpretation Challenge.
Meet the characters from 54 Silhouettes.
Photos from rehearsals of 54 Silhouettes.

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Promotional Photos for 54 SILHOUETTES: Character Nationalities

54 Silhouettes is a contemporary African play which probes issues of stereotypes and the portrayal of Africans, bringing the ever expanding multi-cultural relations of today’s into dramatic focus. To give your imagination a visualization boost we have got great photos introducing the characters and their nationalities. Check them out and let us know what you think.

Alongside the visuals you can listen to an abridged radio version of the play produced by the BBC World Service, here.

In its quest to tell tales of today’s Africa to an international audience, 54 Silhouettes has won the first runner up position in the 2011 BBC African Performance Competition and the Stratford East/30Nigeria House 2012 prize.

Check other photos related to the upcoming performance here and here

Live Theatre Coming with a Bang!

Download and listen to an abridged version of the play.

The city of Jos, J-town, get ready to host one of the most exciting theatre performances of the year in Nigeria: 54 Silhouettes, written and directed by Africa Ukoh.

The play tells the story of a Nigerian actor trying to make it big in Hollywood who finds himself at odds with the very same forces that would bring him success. In 2011 54 Silhouettes won the first runner up position in the BBC African Performance competition and in 2012 it was awarded the prestigious Stratford East/30 Nigeria House prize.

Looking for a sneak peek to the performance? Download and listen to an abridged version of the play produced by the BBC World Service. Leave a comment letting us know what you think.

Abuja, you’re next!

Have You Heard About the 30 Nigeria House project?

What is 30 Nigeria House project?
30 Nigeria House (30NH) project is a legacy project aimed at making significant investment in the works of 30 young talented artists of Nigerian descent, as a means of developing the arts, culture and entertainment industries.

This groundbreaking project, an initiative of New World Nigeria in collaboration with leading UK theater company Theatre Royal Stratford East, has brought to surface stellar young talent in various fields of the arts in Nigeria and the UK. The 30 award winners (23 British-Nigerians and 7 Nigerians) are a diverse blend of emerging and established artists – actors, singers, dancers, poets, filmmakers and more.

Through the project, Theatre Royal Stratford East and New World Nigeria are supporting the artists with awards of £3000, thus making a major contribution to the development of their original creative works, ranging from film, to music, to theatre. Through the 30NH project, the young artists have made noteworthy contributions to the artistic communities in South Africa and UK.

54 Silhouettes by Africa Ukoh
Among the winners is young Nigerian writer Africa Ukoh, whose award winning play 54 Silhouettes was selected under the theatre category. A.R.T is currently developing 54 Silhouettes for theatrical performance.

The play tells the story of a struggling Nigerian actor in Hollywood who gets the chance to star in a blockbuster film but, upon discovering the film to be merely a stereotypical and derogatory portrayal of his country and continent, he finds himself at odds with the very same forces that would bring him success, as he fights to preserve the dignity of his African identity.

54 Silhouettes won the first runner-up prize in the 2011 BBC African performance competition. Listen to the BBC World Service broadcast of the play here and find out more about Africa Ukoh’s project here.

The Vision
Our dream for this project is to use theatre as an art form for promoting and empowering not only a positive image for Africa but a complete one as well. The expanse of the African story deserves to be told in its rich entirety.

30NH reflects Nigeria’s recognition of its dynamically talented people and the importance of supporting its creative industries and talented people. A.R.T is excited to be working on this 30NH project and aspire to bring nothing less than a terrific theatrical experience to the African continent. The journey has only just begun.

Visit the 30 Nigeria House project page on the Theatre Royal Stratford East website to find out more.

Contact information
Do you believe in the power of African arts? We would love you to be a part of this project! To find out more on how you can get involved email us at: artheaterent@gmail.com

You can also visit our contact page or call +234 803 620 7841 or +234 818 663 0223.

Marty Major on BBC Radio

British Nigerian talent Marty Major, whom we once featured on our site, had an interesting interview and showcased the diversity of her talent on BBC radio. Check it out: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21373506