IT will be decision day for the 10 finalists of the second Beeta Playwright Competition organised by Beeta Universal Arts Foundation (BUAF) on January 30 when the grand finale of the contest holds at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.
Shehu Zock-Sock (Tick Tock More Talk); Rukee Ejigbo (Mr Macaroni); Joshua Alabi (Beyond the Wig); Ubonla Adenike (Echoes of the Drum); Abdul-Qudus Ibrahim (Jagagba) and Kehinde Ademoye (A Love Like This) are all in the frame for the prize worth one million naira.
The other contenders that emerged from the 348 entries received are Ekpeno Ukut (Room 7); Kelvinmary Ndukwe (Transparent); El Osas Iyalekhue (Shark Boy), and Elias Ozikpu (Queen Akhadze).
Film critic, Shaibu Husseini; theatre director, Kenneth Uphopho; veteran actress, Ego Boyo; theatre producer and writer, Ayo Jaiyesinmi; publisher and bookseller, Ibiso Graham-Douglas, and playwright, Professor Ahmed Yerima who chaired the jury, judged the entries.
Apart from the one million naira prize money, the winner will also get a publishing deal with Paper Worth Books Limited, have the play produced by BUAF at Terra Kulture Arena and go on a campus tour of selected universities across the country.
Speaking on the process so far, the founder of BUAF, actress and producer, Bikiya Graham-Douglas expressed happiness, noting that the competition is becoming renowned for excellence.
She said, “Our first edition was very successful, with the winning play, Our Son the Minister, produced many times across the country. Our winner, Paul Ugbede, worked with the biggest producers in Nigerian theatre and had also been shortlisted for the African Playwriting competition.
“One of our finalists, Soji Cole went on to win The Nigeria Prize for Literature 2018, with his play, Embers. We are excited to unveil the winner of the second Beeta Playwright Competition and look forward to exciting times ahead.”
The Beeta Playwright Competition is sponsored by Union Bank and supported by WAPIC Insurance Plc, NIMASA, Terra Kulture, Olajide & Oyewole LLP, and the British Council.
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