Celebrating Artistic Diversity and Cultural Vibrancy, Joke Silva, Francis Onwuchei among others attended Lagos Theatre Festival 2024 in Lagos, Nigeria.
The recently concluded Lagos Theater Festival held on Saturday, March 2, brought together a diverse array of theatrical performances, captivating audiences and reinforcing the festival’s commitment to providing a platform for cultural exchange and bridging the artistic landscapes between Nigerian talents and their global counterparts.
The festival showcased the talent and creativity of local and international theatre artists with three plays, musicals, and poetry performances. From immersive conversations around the theatre to thought-provoking dramas, attendees were treated to a rich tapestry of storytelling that reflected the cultural vibrancy of the Lagos Theatre Festival.
The 2024 Showcase of the LTF highlighted the power of theatre to bridge gaps and foster understanding in a world marked by differences with captivating performances from Niall De Burca, one of the top storytellers from Ireland at the Soiree/Press Night held on Thursday, February 29. The Ambassador of Ireland to Nigeria, Mr Peter Ryan, also reaffirmed Culture Ireland’s commitment to more partnerships with the Lagos Theatre Festival.
Theatre lovers could not contain their excitement at the rich array of drama productions curated by Lydia Idakula, the artistic director. Each of the plays showcased, including Anatomy of a Woman by Nevana Productions, Tuti by Kininso Koncepts Productions, and Before I Let You Go by B/Rated, was overwhelmingly attended, eliciting different emotions from the audiences.
In addition to stage performances, the showcase featured a conversation with Ms Tola Akerele, Incoming Director General of the National Theatre, providing a platform for exchanging ideas and knowledge among theatre enthusiasts, professionals, and emerging talents.
The organisers expressed gratitude to its main sponsor, Quramo Publishing, partners, Freedom Park, the Embassy of Ireland, Nigeria, Lagos State Government, Culture Ireland, Friends of Ireland, the artists and the enthusiastic audience whose support made the event a resounding success.
Notable personalities such as Gbemi Shasore, Olarotimi Fakunle, Lota Chukwu, Joshua Alabi, Francis Onwuchei, Joke Silva, and Supo Shasore, who is also Chairman of the LTF board, attended the LTF 2024 Showcase.
Bikiya Graham-Douglas, the Executive Director, stated, “The Lagos Theatre Festival continues to be a beacon for the arts, fostering creativity and promoting cultural dialogue. We are thrilled with the overwhelming response from the artistic community and the public.”
The Lagos Theatre Festival 2024 underscored the resilience and adaptability of the arts in the face of challenges, demonstrating that creativity knows no bounds. Plans are underway for the next edition, a full-blown festival in 2025 committed to promoting theatre in unconventional spaces and easily situated into any given space.
