WORLD THEATRE DAY: League of Lagos Artistes urges Ambode to activate open theatre

The League of Lagos Artistes has called on the Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode to help activate open theatre in a bid to revive the already comatose theatre culture in the country and also help engage numerous practitioners.

The call was made after the performance of a play titled ‘Erinlakatabu’ staged variously at Terra Kulture and the Muson Centre in Lagos, to mark the 2018 World Theatre Day.

Speaking on behalf of the group, veteran actor Adebayo Salami said the activation of open theatre in Lagos and around the country will turn out to be career saving projects for many thespians.

Salami said; “We are however appealing to Your Excellency to help activate the open theatre initiative or the play of the month project. This will in no little way revive the already comatose theatre culture in the country and help engage numerous practitioners.

Read also: ISALE EKO: Gov Ambode to make debut appearance on stage

“It may interest your Excellency to know that most of the performers you will see on stage today are not your regular movie faces but largely those who have chosen live performance as their forte and source of livelihood. For this group of people, the open theatre or play of the month will be career saving projects.

“Most of the faces we see today in movies were never trained for stage unlike some of us like Prince Jide Kosoko, Mama Awero, Alhaji Yinka Quadri, my humble self and several others who started their careers on stage before embracing film. We say proudly that we do not have any regret in being live theatre performers,” he added.

The stage play ‘Erinlakatabu’ is a contemporary dance drama with great message for posterity staged on the World Theatre Day (formerly known as International Theatre Day, ITD)- a United Nations Education and Science Committee, UNESCO event meant for the celebration of live theatre performance and live theatre practitioners around the globe.

 

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