Accountant-turned-screen and stage producer Yemi Olanrewaju is the creative director of Langfield Pictures. He produced ‘Double Crossed’, one of the outstanding plays at the 2024 Lagos Fringe. Following that successful outing, he is set for the 2025 Brighton Fringe in the United Kingdom. In this interview, he shares his beginnings, aspirations, productions, and preparations for this year’s Brighton Fringe.
YEMI Olanrewaju’s journey into stage and screen production started from childhood. He developed a story for his primary six graduating class, and in secondary school, he won the Best Actor prize in a zonal drama contest. Though he had always loved acting, he detoured before returning to his first love.
“I was a science student who didn’t take literature, so I couldn’t study theatre arts that I initially wanted. I studied accounting, first at the Yaba College of Technology, where I gained the Ordinary National Diploma and later at the Lagos State Polytechnic, where I got the Higher National Diploma. However, I earned a diploma in theatre, film, and TV production at Lagos State University. It was a new diploma program that later evolved into a degree program, and I was among the second set of intakes. Acting has always been my thing. I’ve been on screen since the late 90s, but later, I left to focus on my banking career after graduation.”
Inspiration and staying motivated
Everything around me inspires my creative process. As a Christian, I like to stage play with messages of redemption, salvation, and hope. That has always driven me.
Influences
I have several influences, including my Dad, who is a thespian. He always says to be the best in whatever you choose to do, so he’s a significant influence. While starting a career in the creative sector, I met Uncle Lai Asadele, who took me under his wing. I lived with him for about two years, and he cared for me like his son. He encouraged me into production, taught me how to act, and learned my lines. He taught me how to interpret character and other things. I am very grateful to him. He has silently influenced my life and introduced me to television. He introduced me to the director of ‘Beyond the Dreams’ who gave me my first significant role in television back in the day. A lot of my friends are also influences.
Staying current with industry trends and emerging technologies
The industry is constantly evolving, and it’s a good thing. Where we started from in the early 90s is not where we are now. Much has changed, and I stay abreast of what is happening. I ask questions; I seek knowledge from the people who know more to be abreast of new happenings.
Favourite projects
I have done a few short films and was part of two or three feature-length films. I was the co-producer of ‘Holy Heist’, supervising producer of ‘Ajaga: The Yoke’, the first cinematic movie I have been involved in and several stage productions with the Daystar Christian Centre. I’m a member of The Reflection, a drama group, and I had my first stint at the Lagos Fringe last year. We showcased a play, ‘Double Cross,’ and the organizer said it was one of the most successful plays for that season. That is the latest thing I have done, and it was impactful. I was glad that I did it, and it has propelled me to want to go to the Brighton Fringe this year. I mean the experience. Other things being equal and by the grace of God, we should be at the Brighton Fringe in May to showcase another work. It will premiere there, and we should also be at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe if all works well.
Handling criticism
Criticism is part of growth. Nobody knows it all, so you do certain things and expect people’s comments, either positive or negative. There is always something to pick out from every criticism, so I take it as it comes. But the most important thing is to get better. Every job you do should be better than the previous one. I take criticism very well. I expect it, so I process and pick lessons from it when I get it.
Funding
For now, that has been from family and friends. I have some friends who are corporate executives and who support my craft. Pitch Capital Limited is helping us go to Brighton Fringe this year. They supported us at the Lagos Fringe last year. Our outstanding performance last year is what has propelled them to help us. We are taking a cast and crew of six persons, and they are coming through for us.
New Projects and Brighton Fringe
Our new project is the play we are taking to the Brighton Fringe in May. We hope to do a mini-test of the play around Easter and see how appealing it is before the premiere at Brighton Fringe. When we return from the Brighton Fringe, we should be doing the Lagos Fringe again. We are also working on having a full-fledged theatre company to showcase our plays regularly. We are searching for a suitable venue.
My beautiful experience at the last Lagos Fringe motivated me to attempt Brighton Fringe. I had participated as an attendee at past editions of the Lagos Fringe until 2024, when I produced a play. I met different people at Lagos Fringe, and Brighton Fringe was introduced to me there, so I decided to try it. If we can do Lagos, why can’t we do Brighton?
That is what informed us about going to Brighton, and it’s been a huge deal because we are trying to put a lot of things in place, but luckily, we got someone ready to pick our bills: Pitch Capital Limited. Brighton Fringe is a big deal; it’s the world’s second-largest fringe festival, so it’s a big deal that we are going there. We will have two shows on May 25 and 26 at The Joker. We will show ‘Inside’, a beautiful piece centred on mental health and how we manage ourselves as men.
and then