Veteran actor and President of Theatre and Motion Picture Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), Dele Odule is set to revive stage performances with N100million.
Odule made this known while addressing a press conference in Abeokuta, Ogun State in commemoration of his 40 years on stage anniversary,adding that the maiden edition will be the revived stage play entitled, Oju Kelekun (farewell to reproach).
According to him, having realised that stage performance gave birth to film production, he was disturbed that the stage performances was gradually going into extinction after the demise of the founding fathers, which include Hubert Ogunde, Duro Ladipo, Akin Ogungbe, Kola Ogunmola and Oyin Adejobi, among others.
“Stage performances have suffered a lot of setbacks in Nigerian theatre circle. But you will also all agree with me that most of our late theatre legends made their names and fame through the stage and traveling theatre practice.”
Odule stated that the real commercial travelling theatre, brought to the local populace through the stage by the late icons have been in want in the entertainment industry.
“It is therefore my intention to revive the stage drama as a means of commercial empowerment through the schools and streets and bring back lost memories. Our youth can then have a direct opportunity to choose a career in the arts through this form of motivation,” he emphasised.
According to the actor, the project will gulp N100million, and also called for sponsorship, explaining further that the play is intended to be staged in all the South-West states and Kwara, primarily as a command performance to the government of each state and later as a public show.
“I have decided to celebrate my 40th anniversary with stage performance of Ojukelekun, a social satire written by me and will be directed by Professor Rasaki Ojo Bakare, a foremost theatre practitioner.”
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