BY JAPHET ALAKAM
The dreams and aspirations of many theatre lovers, actors/actress, producers and  others will soon matrialise  as NANTAP has concluded all necessary arrangements to reactivate one of the county’s  annual theatre ritual called Festival of Nigerian Plays (FESTINA).

FESTINA which has also been variously described as Festival of Nigerian Theatre Arts is a festival of play, of performances, of total theatre presentation and of theatrical celebration that made its debut  in 2001 to ensure that on a yearly basis, celebration of plays written, directed and performed by Nigerians takes the centre stage.

Addressing the press last week at their new NANTAP secretariat in Lagos, the chairman Mr Greg Odutayo disclosed that  all is now set for the re awakening of the festival. According to him, “ever since the new executives took over, the revival of the festival which died in 2005 due to many challenges have been one of the focal points of their mission.

And with the  new order and the new dawn creeping into the developmental fabric of our Association, the National Executive Council has finally come to the decision to forge ahead and renew our annual theatrical feast.”

Continuing, he stated that the body is  working with four performing companies to achieve the goals and objectives with which FESTINA was initiated. They are Hornbil House, Renegade Theatre, Crown Troupe of Africa and Performing Workshop & Studio and they ‘ve  all agreed to work towards the success of FESTINA 2011.  “It is our intention to activate the Festival in furtherance of the reawakening and sustenance of live theatre.” He added.

He stated that the choice of the four performing companies is based on their antecedence as regular and constant theatre art practitioners whose arts have been consistent and potent and also for a very successful festival, they also depend on the National Theatre that makes the venue an avenue to achieve the magic of theatre.

The performances  will be staged during weekends that span between September 30 and October 21, 2011: Weekend one (Day 1) – Friday, September 30, 2011 will be the opening ceremony that will kick off at 10.00 a.m  and that will be followed with the performance of The Wives,  written by Ahmed Yerima and directed by Kenneth Uphopho and will be performed by Performing Arts Workshop & Studio.

Weekend two, Day 2 – Friday, October 7,2011 will be the turn of The Golden Fleas  written and directed by Segun Adefila to be performed by Crown Troupe of Africa at 4.00 p.m.

Weekend two (Day 3) – Saturday, October  8, 2011,  The Golden Fleas, written and directed by Segun Adefila will be performed by Crown Troupe of Africa at 4.00 p.m..

Weekend three, (Day 4) – Friday, October 14/,2011, The Waiting Room, written and directed by Wole Oguntokun will be performed by Renegade Theatre Company, at 4.00 p.m.

Weekend three (Day 5) – Saturday, October. 15,  2011 will be the performance of The Waiting Room  to be performed by Renegade Theatre Company at 3.00 P.M.

Weekend three (Day 6) – Sunday, October 16, 2011 will be the performance of The Waiting Room by  Renegade Theatre Company, at 4.00 p.m. Weekend four (Day 7) – Friday, October 21,  2011- closing ceremony by 12.00 noon to be followed with a  performance of Nigeria The Beautiful,written by Odia Ofeimun and directed by Felix Okolo and will be performed by Hornbill House

Contributing, former President of NANTAP, Tade Adekunle who was elated with the plan  stated that “it is something that we should continue to support for the revival. There is need to do that because it pains artists for them to be at stage and people will not be there to watch them.”