National Theatre to host ‘Death and the King’s Horseman’
George Quaye’s led Image Bureau Company and April Communications are set to thrill theatre enthusiasts with a new play, Death and the King’s Horseman at the National Theatre.
The play is scheduled for two weekends starting on Saturday, August 23 and Sunday, August 24 with an encore on August 30 and 31, at 4:00pm and 8:00pm each day.
Written by Nigeria’s Nobel Prize-winning dramatist, Wole Soyinka, Death and the King’s Horseman is one of Africa’s most acclaimed works.
Death and the King's Horseman is based on a real incident that took place in Nigeria during the colonial era: the horseman of a Yoruba King was prevented from committing ritual suicide by the colonial authorities.
In addition to the intervention of the colonial authorities, Soyinka calls the horseman's own conviction toward suicide into question, posing a problem that throws off the community's balance.
It explores themes of duty, tradition and the clash between indigenous culture and colonial influence.
Having set a good record with previous productions such as Ola Rotimi’s “The Gods Are Not to Blame”, expectations are high to deliver and George Quaye says patrons should expect nothing but the best of quality production.
During the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the National Theatre in June this year, George Quaye disclosed that the play is one that many directors would not toil with because it is deep and difficult to execute.
“It is a very difficult play to execute and quite expensive to stage but we have assurances and we believe we are about to blow the minds of patrons all over again.
“We believe this is going to be the epitome of theatre in Africa, we are going to redefine theatre because for us, there are no group of performers in this country who are better than those stationed here at the National Theatre,” he said at the time.
“I assure all patrons that the production will feature exceptional acting, innovative set design and high-quality lighting and sound. This will be more than entertainment because it’s going to be a cultural experience that reflects on African identity and legacy,” he told Graphic Showbiz on Tuesday, August 12.
George Quaye also disclosed that renowned stage actor, Andrew Tandoh-Adote will be plays the lead role in “Death and the King’s Horseman” play.
