Arts and culture centre takes theatre to local communities

After being awarded, Theatre Personality of the Year 2015 by Lagos State chapter of National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) a week ago, Terra Kulture boss Mrs. Bolanle Austen-Peters launches theatre in Local communities.

She earned the accolade after successfully thrilling theatre-goers with the magic of Saro the Musical in two consecutive years.

Her new project is to take theatre to local communities and showcase it in public spaces, particularly secondary schools, and preach messages of awareness on social problems. Bishop Howells Memorial Grammar School, Bariga, was the first stop of this open space theatre. Directed by dance expert Gbenga Yusuf, Batonga highlights the plights of young people who are given away to supposedly rich uncles or aunts for employment or education. However, they consequently fall victims to all forms of unscrupulous machinations of these co-called helpers.

Great technical effort was made to perform Batonga in the school hall. It was a challenge but it was pulled off with aplomb. The dance choreography wowed the students to no end and they applauded the sheer theatrics of the performance while the message was being passed. They were so excited and it showed.

Corporate bodies looking to do sensible corporate social responsibility, Batonga offers such unique window of opportunity. Although Ford Foundation is partnering with Terra Kulture, a lot of funds is still needed, according to the centre's General Manager Mr. Joseph Omoibom, who appealled for more support so as to take the gospel of ending slave labour of young people to as many schools and neighbourhoods as possible. Already requests have started coming, as some schools in Maryland, Ikeja, neighbourhood have requested for the play to be taken to them.

This is a good way to start, Omoibom stated excitedly, shortly after the Bariga performance. He added that the cast and crew needed to be encouraged, as the current production was held with a shoestring budget, as the performers' passion and commitment was what carried it through. Although a not-for-profit initiative, Omioibom said the performers needed to be rewarded for their effort.