Nollywood meets theatre in ‘Queen Amina of Zazzau’

In Wale Ogunyemis stage play, ‘Queen Amina of Zazzau’, scheduled to hold at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja in November, intending viewers will be entertained in a way they have never been thrilled by a play before.

This is because it is reminiscent of Hollywood stars vying to perform on Broadway in New York. Only this
time it will be Nollywood that will be in wedlock with the Nigerian stage.
Expected to take place in two shows in two days on Friday, November 13 and Saturday, November 14 at 4pm and 7pm, the announcement of Jumoke Olatubosun as taking the lead role of Queen Amina in the play is already arousing a buzz in Nigeria’s entertainment circles. Olatubosun, a star of the stage also has very intimidating credentials in Nollywood, Nigeria’s film industry and the country’s television.
Nominated for the United Kingdom-based ZAFAA in 2009 as the Best Upcoming Actress for her role in the Nollywood film ‘Greatness’, she has had over 30 marvelous stage performances to her credit. Among her television appearances is the soap ‘Band of Five’ currently showing on ONtv. Others performances include ‘Wetin Dey’ which took television by storm and ‘Nimi’ (in Yoruba) both BBC initiatives. The other films to the credit of the Jos-based Olatubosun are: ‘Sitanda’, ‘White Waters’, ‘Pensioners’, ‘Laviva’, ‘Five Apostles’, ‘Heart of a Father’ and ‘Nadia’.

The performance is produced by the indefatigable Patrick-Jude Oteh, the artistic director of the Jos Repertory Theatre (JRT), who told Newswatch Times that tickets are already on sale and will go on at the door on the day of the performance.
JRT is also bringing two other plays to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) beginning from Monday, October 12 at the Lagos Hall, Transcorp Hilton, Abuja with Pedro Antonio De Alarcon’s ‘The Three –Cornered Hat’ as part of the Spanish Week celebration. Entry to this performance is free courtesy of the Embassy of Spain and Nigeria LNG Ltd. Time is 6pm.
The other play, ‘Last Stand’ by Sefi Atta, is to be staged on Friday, December 4 and Saturday, December 5 at the French Institute, 52, Libreville Street, Off Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja by 7pm
daily. Tickets will be sold at the gate and Oteh promises that the Jos Repertory Theatre will be going the extra mile as is always the case with the group’s performances to not just enlighten and entertain but
to also thrill those who find time to attend.
Jos Repertory Theatre was founded in 1997 as a not-for-profit independent theatre organisation and started full programme implementation in 2000. JRT as the organisation is fondly called does
play/poetry readings, production of scripted plays and the creation of theatre-for-development plays.
It has done very well in the mission of utilising theatre to confront and challenge crucial issues which affect the society with the ultimate aim of educating and entertaining audiences.
JRT organises the annual Jos Festival of Theatre which has become a nurturing ground for new playwrights, new directors as well as creating an insight into the Nigerian theatre repertory. Featuring
plays from the international repertory, new plays as well as landmark Nigerian plays, the festival is currently the only existing private independent theatre festival in Nigeria.