Jaiyesimi’s Ìtàn returns on MUSON stage

After a successful run at the just concluded Lagos Theatre Festival 2016, the rich blend of cultural and contemporary drama, music and dance, Ìtàn (the Story) will be returning to stage on March 26 and 27, 2016 at MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

Packaged by the Thespian Family Theatre and Production (TFT), the play captures the modern day relational tension that crops up between the different age – generations as Àsìkò (‘Time’ personified) intervenes by taking ‘old school’ – die-hard -village-elder, Pa Latinwo and his newly discovered city, roller-coaster grandson, Dee-Kay, on a journey into the past and future. They discover dark secrets shrouded by the veil of time and come to terms with the fact that they need each other to make the best of the present.

The playwright, Ayo Jaiyesimi, who has produced and staged plays such as The Five Maids of Fadaka and Mad King of Ijudiya, is passionate about trying to minimize the challenges that multi-generational relationships pose in families and the workplace, and the disharmony it causes in families or teams within corporate organizations or communities.

Historically, the generations just consisted of the old-timers and the young hotshots. But today, one can identify five different generations of people influenced by major historical events, social trends, and cultural phenomena of its time. These generations include; the Traditionalists (born pre-1945) usually loyal, respectful of authority, conventional, possessing excellent work ethic but may be grave and sombre.

Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964) usually well-educated, tend to question authority but are excellent team members and thrive on adrenaline-charged assignments. Generation X (born 1965-1980) are independent, family-focused, intolerant of bureaucracy, critical, hardworking, and socially responsible. Generation Y (1981-1995) Influenced by technology and doting parents, are highly socialized, technologically savvy, socially responsible and require work-life balance. Generation Z (born after 1995) is also known as the “The Facebook Crowd” and Influenced by a media-saturated world. They are technologically dependent, closely tied to parents, accept alternative lifestyles and tend to be involved in social activism.

With Ìtàn, Jaiyesimi believes that many families and work teams are frustrated because of the lack of generational understanding. Beyond the visible youth culture – dress, music and dance that the older generation and body corporates exploit to their advantage, how tangible are the investments that are being made in youth issues? How well are young people engaged and being involved in crafting corporate and national strategy in a world that they would form majority of the population? On the other hand, how have young people tapped into the experience and structure that older have to offer? These are some of the contentious issues that the play subtly throws up. It calls on all of us to question and fashion a way to bridge this gap before it leads to further disintegration in our society.

The production is led by Ayo Jaiyesimi who is also the Executive Producer, renowned theatre veteran and Journalist- Ben Tomoloju, as Artistic Director and Lookman Sanusi, Productions’ Director. Ìtàn also features a talented 60-man cast and crew which include Nobert Young, Wazobia FM’s ‘LOLO 1’ – Omotunde David, Sam Uquah, Nissi George, Segun Dada amongst others.