Bolanle Austen-Peters Production, in collaboration with the MTN Foundation, is bringing the story and characters of Wole Soyinka’s Death and the King’s Horseman to the Terra Kulture stage on May 13 to 16 in eight performances. The story, which is inspired by true events, is about a king’s horseman who is prevented from committing ritual suicide by colonial authorities.
Here is a look into the talented cast and crew of the play:
1. Olarotimi Michael Fakunle as “Elesin Oba”: Fakunle is an actor, director and producer. While he has played several strong characters in both film and theatre, he is best known for his roles in Ajochie, Paper Boat, Last Days, Run and Omoye.
Fakunle has worked on several projects that are based on the works of some of Nigeria’s most respected playwrights including The Trials of Brother Jero by Wole Soyinka and Our Husband has Gone Mad Again and The Gods are Not to Blame by Ola Rotimi.
In Death and the King’s Horseman, Fakunle plays a major role as “Elesin Oba,” the King’s horseman who is required to commit ritual suicide following the death of the King.
2. Moshood Fattah as “Olunde”: Fattah is an actor, writer and environmentalist. His love for theatre led him to obtain his first degree in Performing Arts from the University of Ilorin in 2013 and Master’s degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Lagos in 2016 with a focus on New Nigerian Cinema.
He has played major/lead roles in several stage productions across and outside the country, including the Spirit of David Musical, the Butcher and the Bridge and Sad Pink, which was one of the curated plays for Lagos Theatre Festival (2016) hosted by the British Council. He has also featured in musicals produced by Bolanle Austen-Peters Productions, including Oluronbi the Musical, Moremi and Fela and the Kalakuta Queens. In 2019, he was recognised for his outstanding acting ability and nominated for a Future Awards, along with Timini Egbuson. Sharon Ooja and Bimbo Ademoye.
Fattah plays “Olunde” in Death and the King’s Horseman, the outspoken eldest son of Elesin’s eldest son, who leaves home to pursue his medical studies in England.
3. Mawuyon Ogun as “Iyaloja”: Ogun is a veteran actress who is known for depicting strong female characters in both theatre and film. She has worked on well-received projects including Bolanle Austen-Peters’ Bling Lagosians, Oluronbi the Musical, Fela and the Kalakuta Queens and Lola Shoneyin’s The Secret Life of Baba Segi’s Wives.
She is also famed for her contribution to the theatre industry by using her platform to allow other actors and creatives share their experiences in a series she titled “The Actor’s Life” on IG live where she has featured Kelvinmary Ndukwe, Hilda Dokubo, Israel Wekpe, among others.
She plays the role of “Iyaloja”, the leader of the market women.
4. Fares Boulos as “Simon Pilkings”: Popularly known as Oyinbo Rebel, Boulos is a Lebanese-American entertainer who has been in Nigeria for 25 years, after moving with his family -from Houston. He is an actor, singer, comedian and rapper who is well-known for his fluency in multiple languages including English, French, Arabic, Nigerian Pidgin and Yoruba.
Fares was trained at Sterling Studios, Los Angeles and holds a Masters in Directing from Met Film School.
His screen appearances include roles in Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald, The Crown, Turning Point and Tied Up.
He plays the role of “Simon Pilkings”, a local British District Officer in Nigeria, who interferes with Elesin’s plan to commit ritual suicide.
5. Ronya Man as “Mrs Pilkings”: Man is an Israeli filmmaker, actress, producer, acting coach and co-producer of Realtime International Film Festival. She has starred in several Nigerian movies and series including Omo Ghetto: The Saga, My Flatmates, Idahosa Trails, Lonely Heart and Chatroom.
She plays the wife of Simon Plikings, a well-meaning British woman who is clueless about the culture and customs of the indigenous folks in Nigeria but makes an attempt to learn.
6. Justin Ezirim — Choreographer: Ezirim is an award-winning Nigerian dancer and choreographer with experience spanning over 16years. He won the Close-Up Fresh Challenge 2007 and the Mnet Let’s Dance competition in 2009.
Ezirim has choreographed notable theatre productions such as ‘Fela and the Kalakuta Queens’ and Moremi the Musical.
7. Bolanle Austen-Peters — Director: Bolanle Austen-Peters needs no introduction. Popularly hailed as the “Queen of Nigerian theatre,” she has revolutionised how theatre is done in Nigeria and provided platforms for several promising Nigerians.
With Fela and The Kalakuta Queens Musical, she produced one of the biggest shows out of West Africa with over 120,000 people watching it in Lagos, Cairo and down south in Pretoria between 2017 and 2020.
Her impact on the film industry is also undeniable. She co-produced 93 Days, a feature film on the Ebola outbreak in Nigeria which was selected for premiering and viewing at The Toronto International Film Festival, The Chicago Film Festival, The Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, The Johannesburg Film Festival, The Africa Film Festival in Cologne/Germany, and RapidLion Award. With thirteen nominations, it became the highest-nominated film at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards. It also received 7 nominations at the 2017 African Movie Academy Awards.
With this line-up, theatre lovers are in for an exciting time! Tickets can be purchased at www.terrakulture.com
