Stage and screen actress, producer and Chief Executive Officer of Beeta Universal Arts Foundation (BUAF), Bikiya Graham-Douglas, has announced finalists for the fifth edition of Beeta Playwright Competition.
Organised by BUAF, Graham-Douglas, who also runs the Beeta Arts Festivals (BAF), says the top 10 finalists emerged from the 794 entries received for this edition of the prestigious playwriting competition, which is sponsored by MTN Foundation, Paperworthbooks, Chairbone GSL and OlajideOyewole Legal Practitioners.
The finalists are Gloria Asoloko (Dust To Dawn), Mayowa Oladeji (Bellicose), Chetachu Igbokwe (Brother Brother), , Elias Ozikpu (Hereos of the High), Olaoluwa Oni (Soro Soke), Adesewa Akinyemi (A Town Called Sane), Yemi Akande (The Mask We Wear), Uche Mordi (House 22), Micheal Ordia (Rose in a Traingle), and Olabunmi Familoni (Big Masquerade that Dance Naked). The BUAF CEO hinted that the grand finale of the Playwright competition will hold at the Muson Centre, Onikan Lagos, on November 18.
According to Bikiya, a two-days ‘writing camp’ for the finalists to be facilitated by the Chairman of the Board of Judges of the Beeta Playwright competition, Professor Ahmed Yerima and notable theatre director Kenneth Uphopho, will precede the award ceremony. The Beeta Playwriting Competition has over the years birthed plays from its past winners who have also gone on to experience enormous successes.
The plays from the past winners include Our Son, the Minister by Paul Ugbede, Jagagba by Abdul Qudus-Ibrahim and Daughters of the East by Achalugo Chioma Ezekobe.
The other members of the panel of judges are Veteran Actress and Producer, Ego Boyo, Theatre Producer and Writer, Ayo Jaiyesimi, Director and Actor, Kenneth Uphopho, Culture and Film Journalist Shaibu Husseini and Publisher Ibiso Graham-Douglas.