The newly renovated National Theatre, now known as the Wole Soyinka Centre for Arts and Culture, came alive on May 30 as children, parents, and theatre lovers gathered for the stage production of I Wish, I Wish, a musical designed to promote positive values among young people.
A Milestone Production
Produced by Proud African Roots in partnership with the National Theatre, the production featured a cast of more than 100 performers and marked the first major performance arts production staged at the facility since its renovation. Among dignitaries at the event were veteran actresses Joke Silva and Stella Damasus, as well as the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka.
Speaking at the event, General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the National Theatre, Mrs. Adetola Akerele, described the production as a significant milestone for the centre. "This is our first major production here. We’ve had a few productions on the premises and an animation festival last week, but in terms of performance art, this is the first major production. The cast is over 100 people, so you can imagine the energy, time and dedication it took to pull it off," she said.
From Summer Camp to Stage
Akerele noted that the production emerged from a summer camp organised by Proud African Roots last year, adding that it was gratifying to see the project evolve into a full-scale performance on the National Theatre stage. She, however, identified funding as one of the biggest challenges facing theatre productions in Nigeria. "We thank our sponsors, FCMB, but productions of this scale require significant resources. There are costs associated with rehearsals, production, personnel and even the use of the venue itself," she said. Calling for greater private sector support, Akerele said investments in culture and storytelling were essential for nurturing future generations.
The play’s creator and producer, Bola Edwards, popularly known as Grandma Wura, said the story was inspired by a desire to raise a generation of children equipped with strong values. She explained that storytelling had historically been used to shape societies and pass lessons from one generation to another. "We wanted to create stories that help families raise children with the right values. That was how I Wish, I Wish was born," she said.
Challenges and Opportunities
Actress Dawn Rain, who played the lead character Nkechi, described the role as both exciting and challenging. Although she had previously played the character, she said portraying the role on a larger stage required her to fully immerse herself in the character. Also speaking, Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, commended Akerele and the National Theatre management for creating opportunities for young talents to perform on a historic stage.
The event highlighted the importance of arts and culture in shaping young minds and the need for continued support from both public and private sectors. With the success of I Wish, I Wish, the National Theatre looks forward to hosting more productions that inspire and educate audiences of all ages.
