A theatrical remembrance for Saro Wiwa
The ingenuity of the playwright; interpretation of the director, Chidi Ukwu; the power, passion and delivery of Patrick Otoro, and other members of the play’s casts and crew; the make belief set; the sound and the full complement of lighting effects combined to produce one of the most compact theatrical production in recent times as […]
The ingenuity of the playwright; interpretation of the director, Chidi Ukwu; the power, passion and delivery of Patrick Otoro, and other members of the play’s casts and crew; the make belief set; the sound and the full complement of lighting effects combined to produce one of the most compact theatrical production in recent times as the Abuja based theatre company joined the rest of the world in marking 15 years since the execution of Ken Saro Wiwa.
The play fictionalized the final moments of the Nigerian writer, theatre director and environmental activists as well as offering a fresh insight into the persistent Niger Delta crisis. The audience endured a tense, highly emotional one hour of intrigues, accusation and counter accusation as Kenule and Major, who incidentally turns out to be Kenule’s cousin traded blames.
Though the playwright chose to deploy humour in his treatment of the play, it was still not difficult for the audience to get the bigger picture. The lines are poignant and quite punchy. According to a review of the play by Mallam Denja Abdullahi, “The Killing Swamp fulfills all the requirements of a classical tragic play as it has the unity of time, space and action. It is simply a re-enactment of the exchange between Ken Saro Wiwa and his executioners just as he is about to be hanged. The unilineal trajectory of the play’s action does not detract in any way from its artistic profundity.
The play turns out to be another attempt at unraveling the motive behind Ken’s struggle and what may be playing out in his mind as he pays the ultimate price. Expectedly, the viewer is not disappointed at the playwright’s portrayal of the final moments of Kenule as some facts that were salvaged from that unfortunate end pointed out that he paid the price with uncommon dignity.
On the choice of the play, Jerry Adesewo, whose theatre outfit put up the production said: “I am personally passionate about the plight of Ken Saro Wiwa. So, when I heard about and read the play, I decided it was going to be the first in the series of stage productions that the group will put up. Moreso, as theatre practitioners, we are simply just playing back an important aspect of our live as a nation.” He added that his troupe is out to treat residents and tourists to the best of theatrical productions, beginning with The Killing Swamp.
No doubt, the play was well received by the audience who accorded the casts; Patrick Otoro (Kenule), Jibrin Ahmed (Major), Seun Odukoya and Adetutu Adebambo (Asabe) and Gold Ikponmwosa and the technical crew led by Chidi Ukwu (Director), Adesewo Fayaman Bay (Production/Stage Manager), Allyson Anaba (Production Assistant/Props), Abrahan Eferobor (Sound Engineer), Bassey Nsikan (Light) and Kayode Ojo (Set), a standing ovation as some of them had to also stay behind for the second show.
“If we get funding, we have plans to take the play to a few places around the country, including the Niger Delta.” The producer reiterated.