ADA DIKE
In recent times, there have
been tremendous movements in the world of theatre in Nigeria. As the year 2013
was rounding off, Pop-Up Theatre was officially opened in Lagos.
As the popular saying goes,
“Give me a space and I will turn
it to a theatre.” A visit to the old Federal Government
Press located at No. 9 Broad Street, Lagos, would make one marvel at the sudden
change inside the building which was hitherto left without anything happening
there.
On the opening day, there were
beehives of activities as young men and women, smartly dressed and known as
tour guides gave guests warm welcome and took them round the building.
A young man called Mr.
Taiwo Jacobs, one of the tour guides took this writer round the building beginning
from Guess Where It Is- Game, where a table was displayed with more than
20 photographs consisting of pictures of the National Arts Theatre, Lagos and
some pictures of the Palace of Sports and Culture, Varna Bulgaria. He asked guests
to search and pick out pictures of the National Arts Theatre separately and
pictures of Varna Bulgaria. Not a single person got it right because the two
edifices look alike, except that, the National Arts Theatre, Lagos is bigger in
size and a close look at the pictures would show some trees around the Palace
of Sports and Culture, Varna Bulgaria which cannot be found in Nigeria.
After the brief puzzle or
game about the National Arts Theatre, Lagos and the Palace of Sports and
Culture, Varna Bulgaria, guests went to the pop-up stage where some artistes
performed and thrilled the audience.
Guests were shown The
possible futures of the National Arts Theatre, which were flyers suggesting
what could be done in the National Arts Theatre apart from stage play. Those
flyers were designed by Ayodele Arigbabu and Hunter and Gatherer. (Manual by
Shvartzberg, Fabian Faltin). Some of the flyers had pictures of mall and
station, documentary of Africa, Not a regular exhibition but under construction
and so on.
On the floor of the hall
were Depository Memory and Time. Renowned artist, Ndidi Dike used some
of the materials within the printing press to create a sculptural installation
that engaged the audience in participation and dialogue on the issue of archive
and memory.
On the wall were three LCD
televisions for three-channel-video section called The Discursive Theatre of
Nigeria by Constanze Fishbeck and Daniel Kotter.
In a welcome address delivered
by the Head of Department (Mr. Anthony Onoluju) of Federal Government Press
(Liaison Office), he said the project was a manifestation of a concept that is
now translated to a product.
“All hands must be on deck
to ensure success inspired by the passion to succeed. The Goethe Institut
enjoys the services of a hardworking, intelligent and vigorous young man as her
director. What we see, experience, talk about, relax with, learn from,
empowered by is an epitome of the brain storming of the Director of Goethe
Institut in the person of Mr. Marc Andre,” said Onoluju.
In his remarks, the Acting
Director of the Pop-Up Theatre, Lagos, Prof. Ahmed Yerima, described the Pop-Up
Theatre as an alternative theatre.
“It is beyond the building. It is not the one people would say the
theatre has not been arranged. You need to take the National Arts Theatre,
Iganmu, Lagos into our conscience and look into the future of what theatre it will
become and this is one of the creativities. Creativity is from the mind and individuals,”
said Yerima.
According to the former
General Manager of the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, Pop-Up Theatre was
targeted at the young and talented ones and noted that, it lives within our
time. “Also, when you look at the programmes reeled out, you’ll begin to
identify with them and that is why I am involved. It gives me a chance to see
the new materials that are coming up. That is what Pop-Up theatre is all about.”
He urged everyone to go
ahead, dream and come up with something good like the Pop-Up Theatre. “So let us create theatres in places that we want
rather than gigantic places.”
Powered by the Goethe
Institut through the collaboration of Constanze Frischbeck and Daniel Kotter, the
organizers hinted that the Pop-Up Theatre would live in various places in
Lagos, in the world and in the virtual space.
“It will pop-up on numerous
occasions in Lagos, whenever Nigerians are celebrating their creative minds, it
will pop-up in the forum Freies Theatre in the German town Dussldorf, in SALT
gallery in Istanbul, as collateral event of the Venice architecture Biennale. A
catalogue will be produced commemorating the journey of Nigeria’s National
theatre from being an architechture towards being an idea, and finally a
website, designed by visual artist Mudi Yahaya, will display a growing archive
of the real and unreal, the past, present and utopian Nigerian theatre for the
Arts,” they stated.
They
further revealed that: “the story of this project “Pop-Up Theatre of Nigeria” started more than 45 years ago, more than 8000 kilometres from Lagos in a Black Sea coastal town called Varna in the
socialist country of Bulgaria.
“According
to communist ideas about theatre and social gatherings, the government was
looking for a built structure that could host sports events, concerts,
conferences and theatre stagings. The architects came up with a unique and
innovative idea: Being one of the first buildings in the world, constructed
purely out of hyperbolic paraboloid forms (instead of straight lines and
rectangles), the "Palace for Sports and Culture Varna" amongst other
features hosted the world's first revolving stage that would turn the
amphitheatre with a central stage into a circular arena.
“Ten
years later, the Nigerian military government was looking for an architecture
that could host the biggest event in African culture to date: the FESTAC 1977.
The Nigerian delegation looked for a model of an appropriate building and found
The Palace for Sports and Culture in Varna. The Bulgarian engineers were
contacted to build a replica of the Bulgarian building in Lagos. Back then, it
was the capital of Nigeria.
“While
the interior design was identically copied, a few changes were made to the original
building: Additional halls were added to host exhibitions, ceremonies and
smaller theatre events, the National emblem was attached to the highest point
of the crown and the building was given a different name: “Palace for Sports
and Culture Varna” became “The National Theatre of Nigeria.”
“While
the National Theatre as architecture was perfectly tailored to host a
Pan-African festival, the main hall was too large for the needs of the Nigerian
society, only. 36 years after its architecture had travelled from Bulgaria to
Nigeria, and almost 20 years after the main hall had fallen into disrepair, "The
National Theatre of Nigeria" went on a journey again on the 6th of
December 2013: this time however, without the ballast of brick and concrete but
in the virtual and light form of an idea: The flexible, spontaneous theatre,
for a day, popping up in various public spaces in Lagos before finding its
temporary home for a week in the former Federal Government Press, Broad Street,
Lagos Island,” they explained.
Also speaking, Constanze Frischbeck stressed that Pop-Up Theatre is open
to creative people to showcase their talents to the public. She showed
appreciation to the artistes that have supported the institute’s projects
through their immense collaborations.
Other prominent figures involved in this project among others include:
Emeka Ogboh, Segun Adefila, Jelili Atiku, Koku Konu and Mudi
Yahaya.
The National Pop-Up Theatre, Lagos, which was officially opened on
Thursday, December 12, 2013, has been busy with activities including Dj
Night With Afrologic and Wura Samba held on December 13, 2013. For one
week, they hosted exhibitions, performances, films, talks and discussions in an
open space in which everyone contributed to.
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