In commemorating Nigeria’s Democracy Day on May 29 by 4pm, the National Troupe of Nigeria/ the National Theatre, Iganmu in collaboration with The Creative Arts Department of the University of Lagos and Arambe Productions of Ireland, United Kingdom will stage the modernized version of Wole Soyinka’s The Trial of Brother Jero written by Bisi Adigun at the Cinema Hall 2 of the National Theatre.

During the preview of the play at the University of Lagos, Prof Ahmed Yerima disclosed that the tripartite collaboration is in line with the new direction of the management of the National Theatre/National Troupe to encourage visiting directors in its residency programme. It would be recollected that in March this year, Wole Soyinka’s The Swamp Dwellers was directed by Nick Momu while in April, Wale Ogunyemi’s The Divorce was directed by Professor Duro Oni for the stage.

Yerima also promised to continue with the residency programme in all genres of the theatre as one of his management’s dynamic and professional ways of rebranding Nigeria the play might equally stressed his management plans towarod encouraging return of artistes from the Diaspora as well as encouraging artistes self-sustenance among other benefits to professionals.

“After the presentation of the children’s favourite cartoon Barney & Friends during the last Easter festival, the cartoon will return to the theatre on Children’s Day, May 27 to 31 at the Banquet Hall of the National Theatre. It is due to popular demand and is in collaboration with Kidztrust of UK, as well as First Bank a licensee of Barney Shows.

Other episodes of Barney and Friends include BJ, Bob D Builder, B-Bop and it would be used to launch the National Theatre/Barney and Friends Club.

Bisi Adigun, the Nigerian dramatist based in Ireland told Daily Sun majority of his audience are the Irish people, which made him to look for a play that would resonate with them on that level “The Trials of Brother Jero” written by Professor Wole Soyinka may not resonate with the Nigerian audience as in Ireland so I sought his permission to modernise his (Soyinka’s) play. In Ireland, if you do a play like that where the man seeks to beat his wife it would be promoting domestic violence, which is against the law there. But what I tried to do was to make Amokpe a caricature and push her to the wall so much so that by the time Chime gets the permission, it becomes okay.” Said Adigun who added

I have learnt how to do works that are inter-cultural because Nigerians in Ireland won’t come to the performance but majority of my audience have been the Irish, and it would not be wise for me to do something that they won’t understand.”

Explaining further, Adigun said “ The issue of pentecostalism is a very big one all over the world. It can be seen on television. Rather I tried to engage in upgrading or updating. For example, a play entitled The play of the Western World that was produced in 1907 in Ireland caused a riot because of some issues. I did it in 2007 by updating it with another writer and it was a big hit, and that was what gave me the motivation to return home.

“ I believe that there is nothing wrong with Christianity but it is not good for people to believe in God and not do what they are supposed to do.

The modernized version of The Trials of Brother Jero, revolves round Pastor Jero, (Kayode Idris) the founding pastor of the Tabernacle of God’s Abundance Pentecostal Church who uses miracle to raise the dead, make the cripple walk, cure cancer and speak in tongues in Swahili and English Language. But despite his spiritual powers, the pastor has a weakness which spells his tragic flaw-and that is Women. One day, Pastor Jero encounters Amope (Dada Omowunmi) and two daughters of discord-sisters Leah and Ife (Gbemisola Adeleye and Adeyeye Folashade) who tempted his spiritual leanings to a great extent .

Professor Duro Oni commended the students who participated in the play for their performance and enjoined them to continue to work harder.
The play which was filled with comedy, suspense and also made the audience to reek in laughter.