Award-winning actor David Ezekiel plays Lakunle in Eko Hotels Broadway-style production, the Jewel, a futuristic musical theatre inspired by Wole Soyinka’s best-seller, the Lion and the Jewel. In this interview, David speaks about his journey in Nigeria’s movie industry, his love for theatre and his most recent character, lakunle, in The Jewel.

How did your love affair with acting begin?

Some people have amazing stories of seeing a show or a movie, and that was their eureka moment! But I don’t have that, my story dates back to my primary school years. Growing up, we didn’t have the luxuries other kids had. I remembered painting on the wall just outside the door; it was the image of a doctor, lawyer and engineer, and I remembered saying to myself: this lawyer didn’t look like someone who couldn’t pay school fees, and I wanted to be him for the longest time.

I was in art class, and at various points, I was part of the drama club as an extra-curricular activity and underneath the surface, passion began to breathe. In 2012, I joined the drama department in my church – Family Worship Center – and I’ve served there ever since and grown in my craft.

I tried to study law for three years after high school, but it didn’t pan out for several reasons. It was a blessing because, during this time, I built myself up with my talent and started seeing a future in what came naturally – Acting.

I started going for auditions and taking online and in-person classes to develop myself, and some projects trickled in. I got rejected for many roles, but I kept going because I knew there was and still is so much more to me. Today, I’m starting to see the harvest.

I used the same drive of that little boy who wanted to be someone great to fuel my desire to be the best actor and take my talent to the global stage. So, i’m inspired by the vision of becoming the most outstanding actor Africa has ever seen.

What has been the major highlight of your career?

The highlight of my current career was my Netflix debut in Blood Vessel. I starred as the lead in the Netflix original film, ranked number 1 in Nigeria and globally for a non-English movie for two consecutive weeks. The second was being nominated for best actor in a lead role at the African Magic Viewers Choice Awards(AMVCA) less than a year after my Netflix debut, and this is a record-breaking nomination as I am the youngest-ever nominee in this category since the inception of the AMVCA’s.

What attracted you to feature in Eko Hotels Theatre Production, The Jewel?

I’d say the story attracted me to this production; it has a root in our memories as children reading exciting books. This particular story was inspired by Wole Soyinka’s “The Lion and the Jewel” and Ola Rotimi’s “Our husbands have gone mad again.”

The play is set in the future of 2100 with futuristic tech and scenery that can only be brought to life by strong imagination. My character, Lakunle, has some similitude to me cause we are both poets; we speak from the heart, he loves deeply, and he dreams of a fairytale life with the perfect person. We differ in that he wants to use sweet words to get the girl without any form of stability in his income or business.

Lakunle is such a sweet, handsome human, and the fact that he genuinely cares for Sidi- the only one he has eyes for – is appealing, as opposed to today, when relationships tend to be contractual.

How are you approaching this character?

Approaching a character like Lakunle requires some work deep within; he is not exactly an alpha male, but he uses his arsenal of words to wage war, and because of that, I do a lot of work on my mind, mannerisms and mode of speech, the 3 M’s. My goal is to get into his headspace more and more every day; that way, I can see through his lens and understand his subtleties as a whole.

Adaobi is playing Sidi. Would this role require chemistry between you to bring the play to life?

Of course. When tasked with building chemistry, the first step for me is to form a bond of friendship, which will naturally be translated into production. Adaobi and I have been very close friends since we starred together in Blood Vessel, and I can tell you she is one talented and astounding lady. The work she puts into her craft to always be better than she has been is genuinely admirable and worthy of emulation, and more than 95% of Nigerian actors do.

Playing this character with her would be a thrill. We would be piggybacking off of each other’s energy and feel every moment we are in as if it were the first time we existed in that moment.

What would you like the audience to see and feel when they watch they play?

The compelling factor about Lakunle and his journey that the audience will note is his passion. His love for Sidi is woven into his words; he’d go on confessing love to someone who isn’t ready to accept it and yet is pressured by her mother. It will be a Romeo and Juliet kind of love, and when the curtain falls, I’d like the audience to change the phrase from Romeo and Juliet to Lakunle and Sidi-type love.

What has been your experience with the director and the cast?

It’s been great! I’ve loved every moment thus far, and it’s such a warm feeling working with like-minded people who know their salt; they bring their 100 and 10 per cent, and it has been a smooth experience.

Are there any other projects coming up?

I have some projects coming up, and I have my eyes set on others. Ultimately, I am excited about playing roles that border on the lines of Afro-futurism, biopics and supernatural fiction stories.

Do you see a future for Nigerian theatre?

With the way theatre appreciation is growing and the rate at which the theatre is evolving and doing better in production and excellence in storytelling, the coming future will be one where people are excited about watching plays. Plays like The Jewel are changing the narrative.

Any Last Words?

I want the audience to know that the future isn’t set in stone; there is always something we can do collectively to chart a much better course for ourselves as a people. And for us as individuals to not force our different ways of life on other people, let them choose for themselves and love them, and let that love bring them to the right path if they choose wrong.