Stage sensation 'Wakaa' becomes the first Nigerian musical to hit London
It’s
no small feat to land a slot in London’s world-class theater district,
but the sell-out musical by Terra Kulture has pedigree, playing to
10,000 people over twelve shows in Lagos earlier this year. The show was
so popular during its first stint, people were offering to pay to stand
in the aisles, according to Austen-Peters.
That wasn’t permitted of course, nor will it be at the Shaw Theater on July 22, when it opens its doors once more. So what can the theater-goers of London expect?
Carving a niche
Describing
itself as “a play about the trials, successes and experiences of young
graduates from varied backgrounds,” “Wakaa! The Musical” follows the
fate of a group of friends after a wager is struck at graduation. Set to
popular music, it’s part social commentary, part satire, but all
singing and dancing.
Austen-Peters
turned to musicals just two years ago. The trained lawyer and
businesswoman had been in the theater industry for 12 years, but a trip
to Broadway turned her attention to the stage’s most flamboyant genre.
“I was inspired by watching ‘Fela!’,” she says. “I thought: these are Nigerian stories, we should be telling them.”
“Saro:
The Musical” was Austen-Peter’s first musical venture, priming Nigerian
audiences for “Wakaa!”, her second genre piece to take to the stage.
“Big
musicals in Lagos — it’s something that’s never been done before,” she
says. “We’re opening up a landscape,” and aiding artists “who have never
had a platform before.”
Like
Rex, one of the characters in her play, Austen-Peter says that Nigerian
performers who have trained abroad often struggle to find success away
from home. Now she’s proving they can have success on home soil and take
it abroad.
“We
should start exporting products, especially culture, from Nigeria,” she
argues, adding that the Nigerian Ministry of Culture has been one of
her supporters in the transition to the English stage.
Even the president is a fan
Political
satire is never far from sight in “Wakaa!”, and Austen-Peters reveals
that four of the musical’s characters are based in part on prominent
figures from within the Nigerian political sphere. She won’t reveal all
the names, but admits a character “very influential, but not
particularly educated” was inspired by Patience Jonathan, the wife of
former president Goodluck Jonathan.
“It’s very critical — it’s a social commentary,” she says, although argues that it is “not confrontational” in its tone. It’s an approach that’s won her many fans, including current president Muhammed Buhari, who caught a performance earlier this year.
“It’s very critical — it’s a social commentary,” she says, although argues that it is “not confrontational” in its tone. It’s an approach that’s won her many fans, including current president Muhammed Buhari, who caught a performance earlier this year.
Austen-Peters
sees the burgeoning genre of Nigerian musicals as an opportunity, and
says that central to her motivation is that “we’re creating lots of jobs
… something I’ve always wanted to do.” Previously outsourced cottage
industries such as costume designing are now being done in-house, as
well as training for technical roles.
“We can rival any of the big institutions in the world,” she argues. “I believe we can do exactly what is being done in England and America.”
If you are in London this summer, make it a date with WAKA at the Shaw Theatre, 100-110 Euston Road, London.
DATES: July 22 - 24, 2016.
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