Arojah Royal Theatre Kickstarts 2022 Theatre Season With Swedish Play, ‘Waiting For Her’
One of the leading performing theatre groups in Abuja and environs, Arojah Royal Theatre has kicked off the 2022 theatre season with stage performance of the play, ‘Waiting For Her’ written by a Swedish playwright, EliSophie Andrée.
The play with the original title ‘Waiting For You’ is a comedy about grief, daring to move on and friendship.
In his opening remarks at the stage performance which took place at Brazilian Embassy Abuja on Thursday, the Artistic Director Arojah Royal Theatre, and the Director ‘Waiting For Her’ Om’Oba Jerry Adesewo noted that the production is one of Arojah Royal Theatre’s numerous activities under the Cultural Partnership Initiative (CPI), which incidentally was launched in collaboration with the Swedish Embassy in 2014.
Explaining what the play is all about, Om’Oba as he is generally known in the theatre and literary world said, “The journey to self-discovery is one we must all embark upon, either as a person, people or nation. ‘Waiting For Her’ is a testament to the therapeutic essence of theatre and our desire as always is to deploy the fundamentality of the art as a socio force and I think that’s what we have just done here. I hope that like Elina, we all would find our path.”
‘Waiting For Her’ highlights the journey of the lead character, Elina who recently lost a dear friend and currently in grief.
She lived in the shadow of her friend who is now late and the reality has dawned on her now that she is left alone.
She has embarked on the journey of discovering who she is and her very essence of living, even as her heart is heavy with pain over the passage of her friend.
Occasionally, the ghost of her late friend communicated her but she was head-bent in discovering her very self.
The production is a cultural exchange and collaboration project between the Swedish Embassy, ​​Arojah Royal Theatre and EliSophie as playwright.
Also speaking, a member of Arojah Royal Theatre and the Assistant Director of the play, Mr. Desmond Okiei noted that lessons of ‘Waiting For Her’ though originally written for Swedish audience is applicable in the Nigerian society especially among the youths.
He stressed that at one point or the other, individuals embark on the journey to finding out their purpose in life which comes with difficulties that will shape them for better at the end.
“We must bear in mind there are prices of trials, obstacles and challenges we must have to pay. If we have this recognition that we have to deal with these hitches, it helps us to win.
“We must ensure that these obstacles will not derail us, rather we must learn from them and that is basically what the main character, Elena did. It is a combination of the life she lived and her very present condition.
“All these trials helped in shaping her to the new person she is. She just needed to recognise that these things are there, but how do I go pass this point?” he said.
In her remarks, a veteran actor, storyteller and a member of Arojah Royal Theatre, Seun Odukoya popularly known as Aunty Shine Shine the Story Teller noted that the play is not strange to a Nigerian audience as the theme teaches one to find himself, his voice.
“We all go through some emotions of grief when we lose someone. The theme of the play is germane and relevant to us as a people.
“It teaches us about that journey she (Elena) had to embark on in an effort to stand on her own. We see her reliving the ghost of her friend, actually interacting with her and also trying to move on. This time, moving on seems to come in the shape of new relationship as well as a whole process of dealing with grief and finding self.
“It tells us that irrespective of what the circumstances are, we are all humans, we are underneath the skin, we deal with sometimes the same issues. We cry, we rejoice but self-discovery is key” he noted.
Guests could not hide their satisfaction at the end of the production which is one of EliSophie Andrée’s international debut.
Mr. Marshall Moses, Director of Projects, Klub98 Initiative said the play teaches a great lesson in one leaving the past, identifying what is more impactful for future life irrespective of pressures.
He noted that despite the overwhelming pressure by the ghost of her late friend, Elena went ahead to do that which she finds fulfilment in.
Mr. Moses encouraged young people in the society not to allow themselves to be totally ruled by the opinion of others but embark on that which they have strong conviction in.
Born 1996, Eli Sophie Andrée writes for television, movies and the stage. Her work is often recognised with her taste for black comedy, unhinged female characters and fast paced dialogue.
Arojah Royal Theatre Kickstarts 2022 Theatre Season With Swedish Play, ‘Waiting For Her’
