It was a cultural renaissance as Nigerians, young and old appreciated the command performance of the play, The King Must Dance Naked, which was staged again at the iconic Glover Memorial Hall, Customs Street, Lagos.
The popular play, written by the lawyer-dramatist, Fred Agbeyegbe, with lots of political undertones to it, ruled the theatre circuit in the early to middle 80s, made a grand return this yuletide, courtesy of Lufodo Productions chaperoned by the theatre couple, Olu and Joke Jacobs.
Reflecting on a radical quest for change through the confrontation of unbalanced laws of human existence, the play, which was the opener for the legendary Ajo Productions theatre project of the 80s, was staged from December 22 to 24; 29 to 30, and January 5 to 7 with the command performance on Sunday, January 7.
Co-directed by Toritseju Akiya Ejoh and Adebunmi Adewale, and produced by Adesoji Jacobs, the play Ejoh noted, “Touches on the rich Itsekiri history and culture, which the writer, Pa Fred Agbeyegbe, who is 88 years, has used as his backdrop.
“It first made its mark in the early 80s in Nigeria. It was a hit for theatre in Nigeria, and it’s still very relevant. One in celebration of the man’s birthday, and secondly, introspect into leadership in present-day Nigeria,” he said.
According to Ejoh, himself an accomplished stage and screen actor and theatre manager, “In ritual cleansing of the society, we come into the world naked and we would live naked. Nakedness in this context is not seen in a derogatory form, but it’s seen in a plain and truthful form. Naked we came and naked we will go.
“As a king, you will not bathe yourself when you transition; some other people will bathe you. So what have you to hide? The play, therefore, is introspect to leadership, to the test on the quality of a leader if you are willing to be accountable. That’s what the play is asking. Is leadership willing to be accountable?”
He continues, “The king being the almighty, will he succumb to the directives of the ones that we do not see? Who is at play here? These are the questions that arise from the text The King Must Dance Naked, and its interpretation in movement, dance, and music is what the audience here will see on December 22, when we open.”
“Are willing to be naked? What do we have in the closet to hide? If we have nothing to hide, then we will be willing to let the spotlight shine on us. So what we want to do as artists is to allow the spotlight to shine on us as performers; we want to tell the story of leadership and its tussle with the gods and the society,” he explained.
Speaking before the command performance paraded established actors and newbies, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Sterling One Foundation, Olapeju Ibekwe said, “The King Must Dance Naked, is not merely a stage performance but an integral part of our cherished memories, shaping our childhood experiences.”
She added that “witnessing the revival of this iconic timeless masterpiece by the efforts of the Lufodo Production team, invokes a sense of nostalgia, prompting a glimpse into the glorious past while embracing the innovative spirit of the present.
“The reason why we are staged the play on the theatre stage this year is, that we are doubling down on the importance of theatre. We want to show people that theatre is the cutting edge of entertainment, and why it is essential for people to embrace it.”
Highpoints of the performance was the Swange dance display by a troupe from Kogi State, and the Calabar Ekpe masquerade dance. There was also cutting of a birthday cake by Pa Agbeyegbe,who was joined by former Governor of Lagos and former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola and his wife Dame Abimbola; former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr John Kayode Fayemi and his wife, Erelu Bisi; Lagos state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka.
