The Department of Theatre and Film Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) recently presented Greg Mbajiorgu and Nneka Alio’s Beauty For Ashes as the 54th convocation play of the school.
Staged at the New Arts Theatre, UNN on July 25, the performance was directed by Mbajiorgu and Ugochukwu Ugwu. Speaking with The Guardian, Mbajiogu said, “Beauty for Ashes is a solo play adapted for a multi-cast production, which entails breaking down most of the roles initially embodied by a single actress so as to create roles for other actors and actresses who support the dominant actress at different points of the play.”
According to him, “adapting this solo play for multi-cast staging has enabled us not only to explore vital theatrical effects, but also to achieve greater theatrical aesthetics. This adaptation has provided us the needed opening to demonstrate our knack for stage-craft, stage movements, actor to actor interaction, mastery of gestural expressions, scene changes and a more graphically choreographed entrance and exit.”
He said, “in essence, adapting a solo play for a multi-cast production is not just about dividing up or re-distributing the lines, but, also about finding creative ways to enhance the themes, characters, spectacles and overall theatrical experience that is especially vital for maximum enjoyment of the 54th convocation drama evening.”
He continued, “this is done to allow for greater casting flexibility and for thematic purposes. We in the Department of Theatre and Film Studies are delighted that the 54th convocation ceremony of our university has provided opportunity for the world premiere of a multi-cast version of our solo play, Beauty for Ashes, a female-centred one-woman drama published by Kraft Books, Ibadan, in 2023.”
Starring Ibik Akuabata Christabel and Nwokedike Oluchukwu Angela as Agbonma, Ogbue Chdubem Jessica, and Wogu Precious Kelechi as Lovina, as well as Chiedoziealum Samson Ganiru and Godwin Winner Chibuike as D.P.O. and others, the play, the theatre director, Ben Tomoloju, said: “Is a scathing criticism of the iniquities of the society. But it is one with a redemptive conclusion.”
The author and journalist, Maxim Uzoatu, noted that Mbajiorgu has singularly established himself as the go-to authority in solo dramatic art in Africa. His compendium of solo plays that featured Beauty for Ashes breaks bold ground in foundationally gathering in one volume 16, insightful one-actor plays that are at once originally and very contemporary.”
For Denja Abdulahi, former President, Association of Nigerian Authors, Mbajiorgu has committed over 34 years as a theatre innovator in giving “substance and corporeality to solo performance, a sub-genre of performative art that has been the soul and wellspring of theatrical and cultural performances in Africa.”
Dr. Tunde Awosami of the Department of Theatre Arts, University of Ibadan, said, “Mbajiorgu has exhibited unusual resilience through decades of pioneering labor at institutionalizing the solo dramatic/performance genre within the humanistic ecosystem.”
Prof Amanze Akpuda, Professor of English, Abia State University, Uturu, noted that “while Mbajiorgu did not originate the art of solo performance in modern Nigeria, he is undoubtedly the first African to transcribe and publish his improvised solo act, thereby, inaugurating the sub genre of solo-dramatic literature in Africa –beyond that, he has equally engendered a consciousness that even attracted major Nigerian playwright to patronise this burgeoning movement. Most importantly, his seminal anthology of solo plays, projects him as a remarkable resourceful thespian –teacher-scholar. The history of solo theatrical Art in Africa and the Caribbean will be incomplete without detailing Mbajiorgu’s original contributions to the development of this sub-genre of dramatic literature.”
Mbajiorgu is an actor, director, playwright, poet, editor, and environmental artist/activist. He is a renowned solo performer, one of the leading eco-dramatists in Nigeria and an environmental poet who has written and produced commissioned plays for ATPS Nairobi (2009), African Institute for Applied Economist (2006, 2007 and 2008), African Innovation Foundation, Switzerland (2014).
Some of his published works are Hands of Fate (co-authored), Water Testaments…, Wota na Wota (co-authored), Beyond the Golden Prize, The Prime Minister’s Son, Dancers from Africa (co-authored), 50 Years of Solo Performing Arts in Nigerian Theatre, 1966–2016 (co-edited), Plastics, Plastics Everywhere, The Power of One: An Anthology of Nigerian Solo Plays (sole edited by Mbajiorgu) and Wake Up Everyone (This drama on climate change, won the first prize at the Inter-Universities competition organised by the National Universities Commission in 2012).
In 2010, he was commissioned by the presidential taskforce on power to write a play on the electricity crisis in Nigeria (Towards a New Dawn) which was staged at the Presidential Banquet Hall, Aso Rock Villa, Abuja for His Excellency, the then President of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. His other major National Assignments are Zik of Africa: The Lion of Lions (1996), an improvised solo play commissioned by the committee on Azikiwe’s Final Rite Activities, His play, Wota na Wota, was commissioned for Nigerian Universities Game (NUGA) in 2008, His Improvised play, Farewell to Ikoku (1993), was a produced as a send-off play for the outgoing Vice Chancellor (Professor Chimere Ikoku) commissioned by the University of Nigeria’s Pro-Chancellor, Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija.
