New Writing from Nigeria project at the Royal Court

During the week of 26 October 2009, a rare and powerful meeting took place at the Royal Court between young theatre writers from Nigeria and British actors and directors, many of whom had Nigerian backgrounds.  A company of 30 actors took part in workshops of the plays and presented extracts in the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs to a sell-out audience.  The events was so popular, many people had to be turned away at the door!

In May 2006, with the support of both the Genesis Foundation and the British Council, The Royal Court began working with young, talented playwrights in Nigeria.  Elyse Dodgson, Head of the International Playwrights at the Royal Court, travelled throughout Nigeria to first meet with theatre practitioners accross the country. Considerable talent was discovered in the cities Elyse visited, which included: Lagos, Jos, Ibadan and Abuja.

In March 2007, work began in Lagos with twelve playwrights from different parts of the country.  The team sent by the Royal Court to work with these emerging artists was led by playwright Leo Butler, director Hettie Macdonald and Elyse Dodgson.  Work continued with these writers in December 2007, this time led by Leo Butler and director Ramin Gray.  Subsequently, in December 2008, there was a week of readings led by Leo Butler and director Clare Lizzimore that took place in Lagos.  After these final readings, each of the writers was asked to propose an idea for a new play and five members were invited to London to work on the first drafts of these plays.

The plays were: Dirty Circle by Lekan Balogun, directed by Natalie Ibu; The Worms Under His Feet by Adebusola Elegbede, directed by Sacha Wares; The Xchange by Iweha Iheanacho, directed by Ramin Gray; The Trial of Sariyu by a Mob of Saints by Kunle Okesipe, directed by Gbolahan Obisesan; and The Human Angle by Ozi Ozoli, directed by Femi Elufowoju, Jr.

The panel discussion after the presentations with the writers and project advisor Femi Elufowoju Jr. was electric, and could have gone on into the early hours of the morning.  A whole range of opinion was expessed regarding the support that was necessary for new writing in present day Nigeria and all were in agreement that this was one of the most dynamic theatre cultures in the world.  They also noted the impact of the new wave of third generation British-Nigerian theatre artists upon theatre culture in Britain today.

The Royal Court is proud of the fact that Nigeria's most prominent playwright, Wole Soyinka, has been associated with the theatre since the 1950s.

On returning to Nigeria, Ozi Ozoli wrote: "Just to let you know, it will take the end of the world for me to forget the Royal Court New Writing from Nigeria Project." There is no doubting that those, whether participating, observing workshops or attending as audience members, will forget the week and this fantastic project either.

For more information about International Playwrights at the Royal Court, please click here.

Elyse Dodgson with the writers and actors involved in New Writing From Nigeria