By Prisica Same-Duru
The number of stage performances and live concerts that took place across the Nation in 2011 was quite encouraging against what was obtained in the past years.

In the bid to bring back to live stage performances, many theartre companies rolled out play productionss, while schools and organisations also made encouraging contributions to keep the new reviving stage tradition alive.

One of the earliest staged plays last year was Seffi Atta’s Cost of Living which was directed by renowned Nigerian born play director, Nick Monu

The ChildVille school Ogudu also reenacted Prof Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart at the Agip Recital Hall of the MUSON Centre, Lagos.

*Kolanut dance by the National Troupe of Nigeria. Photo: Kene Egbuchuna.

A group of artists and producers, Dagga Tola, Italian born Ilaria Chessa, Ade Bantu, Segun Adefila, Ropo Ewenla, staged the command performance of Born Tro Way, a concert that was a clear agitation for the transformation of the standard of living of slum dwellers. It held at Tolu schools, Ajegunle.

The Public Affairs section of the United States of America in partnership with the Society for Performing Artists in Nigeria(SPAN) organised a workshop by The US Battery Dance Company.

Premieres, command performances and concerts, apart from being staged in popular halls like Terra Kulture, National theatre, MUSON Centre, not very famous halls like those in secondary schools in Amuwo Odofin, Ajegunle, Lagos Island, Ikeja, Agege, all contributed in keeping the stage lamp alive.

National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners(NANTAP) Lagos Chapter on the 30th of July at the Cinema Hall 2 of the National Theatre, staged a hilarious play written in 1986 by Fred Agbeyeigbe. It was directed by Segun Adefila in honour of the brilliant lawyer turned playwright, Fred who clocked 76.

Barely few weeks later, another theatre icon,Elder Adejumo popularly known as Baba Sala also received the prestigious award of a grand living Legend also at the National Theatre.

The months of October and November during which theatre came alive had Greg Odutayo led NANTAP adding glamour to the world of stage. The association in conjuction with six performing companies as well as the National theatre, presented six plays at the Festival of Nigerian Plays(FESTINA).

Among the Plays were; Odia Ofeimun’s Nigeria the Beautiful which was directed by Felix Okoro, The Waiting Room, written and directed by Wole Oguntokun and performed by Renegade Theartre on october 28, 29 and 30; The Golden Fleas written and directed by Segun Adefila was also performed by Crown Troupe of Africa on November 8th and 9th.

Abuja also enjoyed a fair share of the glamour of Live theatre with Arojah theatre run by Jerry Adesemo staging three major productions. Ben Tomoloju’s We only went in Search of Happiness , staged at the French Cultural centre in February; Barclays Ayakoroma’s Dance in His Grave was adopted for celebration of International Women’s Day in March while Ben Tomoloju’s play was also repeated at FCT College of Education Zuba Kubwa in May.

During the 77th Birthday of Prof Wole Soyinka, The Arojah Theatre presented the Noble laureate’s most outstanding Plays, A Play of Giants and The Lion and the Jewel .

In the same vein, the MTN Foundation-MUSON Scholars Donor’s Appreciation Concert which was held on the 5th of December, in no small way, thrilled audience with Classical Music.