Influential theatre producer, Joseph Edgar also known as The Duke of Shomolu continues with some superlative engagements despite the pandemic slowing down things in the space. On the back of the highly successful “The Duke has Gone Mad”, which took place at the height of the second wave of the pandemic in December and which drew a highly representative crowd of over 800 people, he is this month dropping one of the biggest ever staged theatre productions in the Niger Delta this April 30 at the prestigious Ibom Hall in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.
The play titled Ibiom, written and Directed by William Benson, is a colorful and rich story of love. It draws inspiration from all the ethnic groupings that make up Akwa Ibom to tell a very engaging and exciting story that has been designed to bring out varied emotions from the audience.
Edgar in a statement said: “Ibiom begins to catalogue the dignity of a proud heritage. Pulling together the very essence of the People of Akwa Ibom into a well told story spiced with ornamented dance sequences that spice up the performance in a way that would leave audiences in awe.”
The project would include a free training session for Akwa Ibom youths curated by famed Prof Ahmed Yerima, who is the former DG of The National Theatre. This session, which is in partnership with the Dakada Initiative, would see attendees taken through the very complex sections of theatre in a contribution to the human capital development drive of Governor Emmanuel Udom’s administration. The project has the full endorsement of the Akwa Ibom State Government with its Commissioner of Culture and Tourism, Mr Orman Esin playing a very critical role in ensuring its success. The Play is being supported by MTN Foundation, Anchor Insurance, Monty Suites, Ibom Air and many more Corporates and individuals.
