My Big Fat Nigerian Wedding

As part of my 30 Nigeria Commission, which 30 of us won 2012 as part of the Olympic Celebration, I decided that I was going to write a play, not just any play, but a play called My Big Fat Nigerian Wedding, a comedy about a daughter, Mary, whose religious mother Abi, decides along with the help of Abi’s mother Doris, to marry Mary off behind her back without her knowing. The idea of the play was to be a satire, it was to be a voice that showcased everything we love as Nigerians but still show everything that we must face as Nigerians.

During this period, I had workshop sessions, I spoke to friends about the piece, and after I saw down with Dawn and Shawab from Stratford Theatre, in the end I guess it just didn’t sit well with me. They pointed out things that I had thought off and I realised I wasn’t “feeling it” – emotively, I really had no passion for it. It’s a great idea, one that I hope one day to revisit, but I felt something was missing, I felt it wasn’t “yet” relevant to me to write. The play actually stemmed from another unfinished product, and I guess I felt like that had to be finished for me to move on. It had more relevance to me and it was a story that I have always wanted to tell. It does the same things as My Big Fat Nigerian Wedding; showcasing what we must face as Nigerians…or as black people. It is about a religious woman, Abi, who finds out her daughter Mary is a lesbian, she then has to deal with her present but must first overcome her hidden past with her mother Doris who now suffers from Dementia. For me this was a play where I got to do so many things and explore culture in a way that I don’t feel has been done before. So I’m on my 3rd, or is it 4th or 5th draft…who knows? It all kind of gets lost in the Abyss of Drafts, you walk in and all you see are these swirling pieces of paper in the air, each at one point a part of you but destined to one day be forgotten.

I’m still putting together pieces of this story that are needed, pieces that Dawn and Shawab have helped me find which I didn’t know where right there staring in my face! The exciting part is that I’m loving all of it, I’m loving finding out who these characters really are deep down inside, what shapes them, makes them want to live, makes them who they are! I don’t know how many more drafts I have, but I’m looking forward to each and every one of them.

By Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor

More info..

What have you been up to recently?

I’ve been busy running my theatre school. It’s called Centre Stage Theatre Academy and we have around 300 pupils. We teach a wide age range from 4-18 so things are constantly hectic. We’re also working on a production of  Fame and a Michael Jackson Tribute show in June. All this, as well as acting, and looking after my heavily pregnant girlfriend.

Is this your first time working at Theatre Royal Stratford East?

I performed a rehearsal reading last year as part of Angelic Tales new writing festival. The play was called Slap. It was a hard hitting story by Alexis Gregory, and it was the first time I got to work with the uber- talented  Rikki Beadle-Blair.

Which role are you playing in the show? Can you tell us anything?

It’s always a work in process, I play Mark Prospect the second eldest brother and supposedly sensible brother. Married with kids, Mark is the responsible type, but even the responsible one’s have their problems.

What are you enjoying most about working on GUTTED?

Everything! It’s a great play and we’ve been doing lots of character work. The Prospect brothers even have their own Twitter profles, and we’re Tweeting regularly up to the opening of the play. Search for #GuttedPlay.

Curtain up on Twitter—Theatre Royal Stratford East’s characters from new play GUTTED start conversations on Twitter two weeks before show opens.

At Theatre Royal Stratford East we’ve always thought of ourselves as a forward thinking producing theatre, and for our latest production GUTTED, opening April 26, 2013, written and directed by Rikki Beadle-Blair, we’re extending that thinking outside of the physical theatre itself.

For the two weeks leading up to the first performance on April 26, four of GUTTED’s actors will be Tweeting in character. Their character names are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John Prospect. To find them now, search for #GuttedPlay on Twitter.

We hope this will enhance the enjoyment of GUTTED for our audiences in two ways

1.   add a new dimension to the production for familiar visitors, and

2.   engage the wider community who may never have visited us before.

 For both audiences we hope this will help them to build empathy with the characters and spark their interest in the plot, and that ultimately this becomes a new way to help tell stories and discuss the themes and ideas raised.

Join the Conversation

We are also encouraging our audience to tweet live during the production from designated Tweet Seats to keep the conversation going during the play and give our audiences a voice that extends far beyond the theatre.

We know that mobile phones in performances can be distracting to some, so to avoid disturbing other visitors’ enjoyment of the play, the Tweet Seats will be located in the last two rows of the stalls and in the upper circle. If you want to book a Tweet Seat, just let our friendly box office staff know at the time of booking.

To see what our characters get up to in the two weeks before the play starts, please follow us on Twitter, and ‘Like’ our Facebook Page, but more importantly, join in the conversation and let us know what you think.

To find out more about the Prospect boys, hear what they’re saying and join their conversation, follow them at:

@Matt_Prospect

@Mark_Prospect

@Luke_Prospect

@John_Prospect

Have fun! The conversation starts Monday April 15, 2013 at 10am.

What have you been up to recently?

I have just finished a 6 month stint on Channel 4’s Hollyoaks. I’m now back in London to work on GUTTED. Other than that, I am training for the London Marathon on April 21 and playing a lot of football. I’m looking forward to a music festival filled summer as well as trips to Barcelona & Ibiza

Is this your first time working at Theatre Royal Stratford East?

Yes. We came in for a video shoot early in the process and from that day I loved the place. It makes a difference coming into work where everyone is part of the same family. A nod and a “hello” in the hallway goes a long way. It’s also close to my home in South East London so the commute is a dream.

Which role are you playing in GUTTED?

I am playing Matthew Prospect. He’s the eldest and arguably the most damaged of the Prospect brothers. He’s an ex Millwall FC footballer who’s downfall is essentially his insistence on telling the truth.

What are you looking forward to most about working on GUTTED?

Intensive rehearsals with a group of people ready to dive in at the deep end. Exploring issues in a script that doesn’t pull any punches!

When you hear the word GUTTED, what do you think of?

I think of all the times I’ve been let down.

BOOK TICKETS

Meet Natasha, she’s the Deputy Stage Manager for GUTTED. We spoke to her earlier today…

Natasha, what is your job on the production?

I’m the eyes and ears of the Stage Management Team during rehearsals. We have a Stage Manager, myself the Deputy Stage Manager, and an Assistant Stage Manager. During rehearsals, I take notes of where the actors enter, move in relation to other actors, and exit. I record these details in a copy of the script known as ‘the book’.

I also take notes on what props, lighting, and sound effects are required, and let all the different departments know, so they can plan for the production.

During the run of the show, I use ‘the book’ to cue lighting, scenery, and sound effects, as well as making sure the actors enter, move and exit in exactly the same way as recorded in the rehearsal with the Director.

What do you love about your job?

I like working as part of a team, and being involved in the creative process.

I’m really enjoying GUTTED. We are working with a brilliant Director - Rikki Beadle-Blair, and we have an excellent cast. The play is thought provoking and funny, but most importantly, hugely entertaining.

To book tickets for GUTTED visit - http://www.stratfordeast.com/gutted

circusspace:

By Daisy Drury, Director of Circus Development

I first met Kristine Landon-Smith in Spring 2008 when we had just launched the Creative Exchange Programme at Circus Space. Creative Exchange was funded by the Jerwood Charitable Foundation and was designed to encourage established…

Our First Q&A with Jamie from the cast of Gutted…

What have you been up to recently?

For the last 12 months I’ve been working as an agent at A&J Artists… and have loved every minute so far but can’t wait to get cracking with Gutted. It’s going to be like a holiday! Although very hard work I’m sure! I went on my first sun holiday in a few years actually last September when i attended a Surf Camp in Ericiera, Portgual. And I’ve just today booked a flight to Amsterdam for a friend’s Stag do which departs a few hours after the VERY last performance of Gutted…. should be interesting. 

Is this your first time working at Theatre Royal Stratford East? 

Apart from table reads with the boss Rikki and coming to see shows at the theatre, it is indeed my first gig there…. every time I’m there it seems to snow!! So it’ll be nice performing during Spring/Summer!

Which role are you playing in the show? Can you tell us anything about them?

I’m proud to say I’m playing the 3rd eldest son, Luke Prospect. He aspires to Brad Pitt in Oceans 11… yet defaults to Pitt in Fight Club… with a big heart, so I’ve been watching those movies a lot, listening to the sound tracks (I’m big on my music), and occasionally visiting ‘The Blue’ market in Bermondsey to mix it with some old school South Londoners… and I have a few other ideas up my sleeve to really get a feel of ‘The Prospects’…. but they’re my secret!

What are you looking forward to most about working on Gutted? 

The cast! During our recent photo call day the guys playing the other brothers were saying how we’re more than likely all going to be like best mates by the end of it! 

When you hear the word Gutted what do you think of?

Honestly…?! Arsenal being dumped out of the Champions League last night and how i didn’t get a full house at Bingo!  

Find out more here 

As STEP prepares to hit the Stratford East stage this week we asked leading man Urbain Ngendahayo to let us know about his experience working on the show…

Being in Step has been a roller coaster experience for me. The toughest and most enjoyable part so far has been going on tour, I learned so much. I thought that once the tour was over everything would calm down but YAC is still intense as ever just in a different way.

Last week, on Thursday we worked with Phillip Hedley on Shakespeare monologues. He made us feel so free and comfortable with the text that I didn’t realise the amount of things I was learning all at once.

We also worked with choreographer Omar Okai, who taught us that movement comes from within and should always tell a story otherwise, “get off the stage”; he taught us a routine that I am enjoying trying to master.

Lastly, on Thursday we worked with Byron Gold who made us think and question what type of music we like and why.

Friday we worked with Jan on CVs and business cards and did a workshop with Rikki BB on writing down our dreams and goals and making them specific.

We took some time to write them down in detail and what we wanted to do after YAC. After we had written it down we had to say it out loud to each other. To me this was the most powerful experience of the week because it made me feel vulnerable and challenged me to be brave to go after my dreams.

It showed me the difference of having an idea in my head loosely flying around to knowing that idea specifically, taking hold of it and trying my best to make it a reality. When I read my dreams out loud to my cast mates, it made me feel like they were more tangible. By just saying them out, it gave them a level of reality. We discussed each of our dreams and we helped each other come up with practical and specific ways to achieve our goal from the moment we said them.

To me this was so helpful, because YAC has been such an amazing experience it is easy to get lost in the present and not think about what I will do after. Now I am still enjoying YAC, but thinking ahead and making moves for my career in the long-term.

Regards, 

Urbz

Find out more about Step here

Meet the cast of up coming production Gutted

Find out more about the show here