The Curtain Finally Falls On Adeyemo Dacosta

A VITAL member of the Nigerian theatre community and a member of management of the National Troupe of Nigeria, Mr. Dacosta Adeyemo otherwise known as ‘Pa Dee’ has passed on. Adeyemo, a foremost stage manager who holds a first and second degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Ibadan, died last Tuesday in Lagos.

His colleagues at the National Troupe hinted that the trained theatre technician, who rose to the rank of Deputy Director in the Federal Public Service from the position of a Stage Manager, was scheduled to travel to India this week for a correction on the kidney operation he had about seven years ago. He underwent a successful transplant in India in 2009 and returned to his duties at the National Troupe. But his decision to return to India this week for a correction meant that he experienced a failure.

A good natured and likeable personality, Dacosta did not do any other work, except for some occasional teaching — but he also taught theatre arts, outside the theatre.

Mentored by a number of theatre icons including the former Artistic Director of the National Troupe Professor Bayo Oduneye and married with children, the late Dacosta is reputed as one of the most significant theatre stage managers in Nigeria. Married with Children, ‘Pa Daco’, as the thespian is simply called by younger colleagues, stage managed and served as assistant directors on so many critically acclaimed stage productions including the stage adaptation of Things Fall Apart, Death and the King Horseman, King Must Dance Naked, Trials of Oba Ovanranmen, Ameh Oboni the Great and Midnight Hotel.

The Artistic Director of the National Troupe of Nigeria Mr. Akin Adejuwon has described as ‘devastating’ the news of the death of Adeyemo.

“He was a committed and very resourceful staff. I have lost a great staff. No doubt, he will be greatly missed,” he said.

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) has joined several other thespians both in and out of the country to condole with the family and colleagues of the deceased at the National Troupe.