Writer and director Bunmi Awolowo is challenging gender and societal norms with her latest immersive theatre experience, '99% Virgin'. The production, staged in partnership with RISE, follows the story of a good Christian girl confronted with life's unexpected twists.
Plot and Themes
The play explores the intersection of fear, faith, and desire. The lead character, Olamide, is forced to question everything she thought she knew about purity, devotion, and desire. With nothing off limits, the bold and deeply relatable story follows Olamide's journey between conviction and confusion, supported by her best friend.
The drama asks what women do when their reputation and even life are on the line. It challenges previously held convictions and sparks fresh conversations about the remaining '1%'.
Cast and Performances
The cast includes Seyi Sobowale (Simi), Tolu Bishop (Tunde), Audu Israel (Doctor Prestige), Taiwo Oyindasola (Iya Shukura), Debby Whyte (Olamide), and Blessing Boyede (Ify). Whyte, who plays Olamide Folarin, traced her stage acting beginnings to the church and made her official stage debut last year. She noted, 'The storyline is the reality of many women, and I was able to interpret it well with the help of my director and fellow cast. There are women over 30 who are still naive, and we hope they learn from this.'
Director's Vision
Awolowo praised the play's reception and announced it will run every weekend throughout April. She emphasized the message: 'I intended to challenge the norm that celibacy and purity are strictly for women. Men are also on that journey, and our world today makes people look stupid for choosing celibacy. I want to encourage both women and men that it is fine to wait.'
Despite challenges in putting the play together, Awolowo noted that 'having a partner like RISE made it so much easier. Even with rehearsal and production issues, we were able to make a good play.'
Future of Theatre
Awolowo observed that theatre is slowly gaining ground in Nigeria but sees room for growth. 'There are more productions coming up this year. I started Signpost in 2020, and our first play was for the Lagos Theatre Festival. Since then, we have done 'Alternatives', 'Unnoticed' (a play on mental health and suicide), 'Mara', and now '99% Virgin'.' She intends for her plays to be thought-provoking, lesson-filled, and relatable. 'Mara is a short film recently nominated for the Joint Film Awards. We plan to do more films and theatre shows. I want to see more investment in theatre, bring Broadway to Nigeria, and make it bigger. I want theatre shows at the National Theatre, with people coming out to watch and take pride in our stories.'
'99% Virgin is a very relatable and universal story, cutting across all cultures and voices. Many women can relate, and our stories are very important. We should tell them and tell them well,' she added.
Support from RISE
Nduka Dike, creative director at Risevest, expressed happiness to support the arts and creative sector. This marks their first theatre sponsorship, and they intend to continue supporting films and the creative industry. 'There is always room to improve. We have come far, but wherever there is potential, there is always room for expansion,' he said.
