A new experience in theatre is on stage at the esteemed University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). The Senate Ceremonials Committee of UNN is presenting the Department of Theatre and Film Studies in Greg Mbajiorgu and Nneka Alio’s play, Beauty for Ashes, directed by Greg Mbajiorgu and Ugochukwu Ugwu, for the 54th Convocation Ceremony of the University on July 25 at the New Arts Theatre, UNN, starting from 4pm.
According to Associate Prof. Greg Nnamdi Mbajiorgu, Head of UNN’s Department of Theatre and Film Studies and Fellow of Theatre Arts & Nuresdef Laureate, “Beauty for Ashes is a solo play adapted for a multi-cast production which entails breaking down most of the roles initially embodied by a single actress so as to create roles for other actors and actresses who support the dominant actress at different points of the play. This is done to allow for greater casting flexibility and for thematic purposes.”
Mbajiorgu stresses that the Department of Theatre and Film Studies is delighted that “the 54th Convocation ceremony of our university has provided the opportunity for the world premiere of a multi-cast version of our solo play, Beauty for Ashes, a female-centered one-woman drama.”
The play written by Greg Mbajiorgu and Nneka Alio was published by Kraft Books, Ibadan, in 2023.
In the insightful view of Mbajiorgu, “Adapting this solo play for multi-cast staging has enabled us not only to explore vital theatrical effects, but also to achieve greater theatrical aesthetics. This adaptation has provided us the needed opening to demonstrate our knack for stagecraft, stage movements, actor-to-actor interaction, mastery of gestural expressions, scene changes and a more graphically choreographed entrances and exists. In essence, adapting a solo play for a multi-cast production is not just about dividing up or re-distributing the lines, but also about finding creative ways to enhance the themes, characters, spectacles and overall theatrical experience especially vital for maximum enjoyment of the 54th convocation drama evening.”
Mbajiorgu offers grateful thanks to Acting Vice- Chancellor Prof Oguejiofor Ujam for his financial support; the Chairman Senate Ceremonials Committees, Prof. Chikelue Ofuebe; and all the Members of the Senate Ceremonials Committee who endorsed the Drama for the 54th Convocation of UNN.
In his commendation for the convocation drama, the respected Thespian Ben Tomoloju stated: “Beauty for Ashes” by Greg Mbajiorgu and Nneka Alio is a scathing criticism of the iniquities of the society. But it is one with a redemptive conclusion. Agbonma Obiozo, the narrator opens the play with a relay of posers on the paradox of good and evil on the capriciousness of the human being in matters pertaining to justice and injustice. She also comments on the absurdity of life in Nigeria, the very setting of the play. The paradox is reflected in her name for, as she says: ‘My name is Agbonma. But my life depicts the exact opposite of Agbonma…’ Agbonma is a paragon of beauty, an eye-catching belle. She is approached by numerous suitors whom she rejects until wealthy Ogbuka comes her way like the complete gentleman in Tutuola’sThe Palm-Wine Drinkard. She gets married to Ogbuka only to later discover his irritant lecherousness. She abandons the marriage and, out of frustration, takes to prostitution – another recurrent sub-theme in The Power of One… According to her, prostitution is ‘very lucrative’. She runs around with wealthy men who can finance her life of opulence and grandeur. Those who cannot, she despises and abuses in the vilest. She loves to hop around the globe luxuriating in the best hotels and resorts, but with heavy cash as the bottom line. She earns it for a while until her sweet song turns sour.”
Tomoloju continues thusly: “Soon, her sex-trade slumps. She’s boxed into the mystery of low profile hustle. Agbonma finds herself pitiably among street girls hawking their bodies in dimly lit byways. She sometimes falls victim to exploitative policemen and is treated like a common criminal. Once, she is detained. She’s pestered for sex and submits herself to carnal exploitation by a police officer. Thereafter, in the same detention cell, luck smiles on her. She meets another police officer who proves quite humane and godly. The officer is, in fact, a born-again Christian who touches her soul with life changing words from the scriptures. Her life is thus transformed for the better, from that of a shameless harlot to a penitent, salvation-seeking child of God. Later, she, too, becomes an ardent evangelist of the word of God, influencing positively the lives of several women of easy virtue as well as other people in need of her redeeming intercession.”
It is endearing that Tomoloju concludes with these words: “With her power of prayer proselytizing, Agbonma wins more and more souls. She ministers to their spiritual needs, salvages them from all forms of infirmity and wants, give them ‘beauty’ for their ‘ashes’. Beauty here is transcendental. It is not of carnality, but quintessentially spiritual. By her commitment to the divine calling, fortune smiles on Agbonma and she’s permanently relieved of her former life of corruption, pain and tribulations. In spite of the initial quoting of secularism, Beauty for Ashes is one solo play that is not only resonantly didactic, but quite evangelistic in spirit. Even the two titular words are biblical. Beauty is of God’s holiness and Ashes is for dirt and mourning. Equally, the play can also be approached from the perspective of the drama of ideas. There is always that kind of interface between solo plays and other types.”
The Lead Playwright/Director Greg Mbajiorgu is an actor, director, playwright, poet, editor, and environmental artist/activist with many published plays and scholarly works to his credit. He is a renowned solo performer, one of the leading eco-dramatists in Nigeria and an environmental poet who has written and produced commissioned plays for ATPS Nairobi (2009), African Institute for Applied Economics (2006, 2007 and 2008), African Innovation Foundation, Switzerland (2014).
The co-author, Dr NnekaAlio, is a Lecturer I at the Department of Theatre and Film Studies, UNN. Her research interest centres on Theatre Studies and Theatre Design, and she has great passion for costume and make-up design and execution. The co-director, Ugochukwu Victor Ugwu, holds Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from UNN, and he has staged plays at major African theatre festivals.
The technical director, Prof Uche-Chinemerem Nwaozuzu (Dip, BA, MA, Ph.D) is a Professor of Drama and Theatre with focus on Playwriting, Directing, Scenography and Dance/Choreography. His published plays include God Bless the Carpenter, The Candles, Ajari, Ochomma Society and several others. He’s the co-editor of In Our Own Words: The Colossal Strides of Emeka Nwabueze, and several other edited books. The make-up crew head, Dr. Ijeoma Prudence Orji is passionate about film and acting, and she is interested in exploring other societal as well as intersection of technology and art in her work. The stage managers are Akamu Abraham Ogonna and Godwin Winner Chibuike. Ibik Akuabata Christabel and and Nwokedike Winner Chibuike are billed to play the star role of Agbonma.
Beauty for Ashes is a sure winner, and the audience at UNN’s New Arts Theatre will bear witness of a splendid offering as the 54th convocation drama.