Page 20 - People Daily Newspaper

PEOPLE DAILY / Monday, September 20, 2021

CAMPORAGE
Covid-19 restrictions meant that people With Adalla Allan
Spice Flavour ZPVS EBZ could not attend live theatre shows.
This saw the postponement of some live Comrades
@njerimainar productions, while others persevered
and were staged to online audiences. too have
With the pandemic slightly easing
THEATRE comeback, writes Njeri Maina readjusted
this year, stage plays are making a

These are tough times for
the country. Kenyans are at
their lowest moments as they
RETURNS during these tough times of
struggle to make ends meet
the Covid-19 pandemic and an
abrupt rise in fuel prices. Well,
the fact that the kawaida com-
rade doesn’t own an automobile
doesn’t mean that they are
not affected. Fuel is a driver of
hen Covid-19 economy, therefore, a rise i the
pandemic hit cost of fuel results to a rise in
home early last Victor Nyaata and Cyprian Osoro, co-founders cost of production and transpor-
year, the creative of Mkisii ni Mkisii productions. tation eventually affecting the
Peter Tosh
arts industry was price of almost everything else.
one of the indus- getting vaccinated and people play on. A majority of comrades
W tries that was being more careful and strictly The challenges included depend on their parents for
worst hit. The theatre industry, es- following the Health ministry the fact that it would be hard to upkeep. Sadly, with the rise in
pecially, received a massive blow, restrictions, live theatre shows police the nu mber of people cost of living, they don’t expect
as all theatre productions rely on are making a comeback. watching. Whereas families even a coin to be added to their
the face-to-face element and the coming for live theatre shows normal pocket money. So, look
live interaction between audience Keeping at it pay a ticket per head, online for possible ways to milk money
and cast members. “We have staged several shows meant that only one fam- from their parents. This is the
Cyprian Osoro, a comedian theatre shows this year. We are ily member needed to pay and reason comrades prefer staying
and co-founder of Mkisii ni Mkisii humbled that people are show- then they would watch with their at school other than spending
productions, says performing a ing up all masked up and ready friends and loved ones as a unit. the holiday with their parents
play live for audiences is quite to have a good time. Our first But the added eyeballs were at home. Unlike in high school
different from recording it and show was on last year where we also an added advantage, as it where you would fake symp-
distributing it later. He shares how toms to have the clueless nurse
did a Gusii night of comedy and meant that more people got to
audiences have also shared get you the leaveout letter,
music. It was a celebration of know of Liquid Arts. Moreover,
that viewing experience is things do change in campo.
culture through comedy, skits, the people who were willing to
more enjoyable as a part of Comrades will find any pos-
and music. So many people buy the online tickets were die-
a live audience as you can sille loopholes to milk money
showed up with some of our hard theatre fans who were at
share jokes with people you audiences sharing that they had times buying the tickets just to from parents by using twisted
are seated next to with the travelled from far and wide to support the arts industry. phrases that parents won’t
shared energy making come for the show. Immediately “So far, we’ve done four live understand. But before you at-
for a memorable ex- after, the pandemic hit Kenya, stage plays this year, with the tempt this, always ensure that
perience. Fortunate- which meant no more shows. last one being staged in August. your parent is not that kind of
ly, with more and “The production company We are currently scripting and mjanja parent that consults
more people never had a chance to grow, rehearsing for Barua, our next uncle Google. This may land you
but we kept hope alive, coming stage play that will be staged in trouble with them while you
risk facing neglect.
up with ideas for future shows live at the KNT from October The rate at which the girl child
and producing online content to 8 to 10. We feel privileged and comrades are now going for
nurture our audiences. When happy to be able to do this once sleepovers at their boyfriend’s
the pandemic started easing again. We have an increased places has also increased. They
this year, we held two shows appreciation for live audience are now more cooperative than
at Kenya Cinema and Kenya interaction,” says Tosh. ever before. They do this to
National Theatre (KNT). We are cut the costs they have to bear
glad to say that audiences have Industry support at their places as the price of
started coming to theatres to While the worst seems to cooking gas has also gone up.
watch plays, we could not be be in the past, hopefully, the Marking territory has been
more grateful,” Osoro intimates theatre industry is still grap- their norm. You go to your man’s
to Spice. pling with many challenges. place and leave a toothbrush.
Thespian, screen actor and Osoro shares how hard it is to
Liquid Arts Entertainment get sponsorship for shows from His side chile comes and does
the same. The trouble comes
founder, Peter Tosh, concurs both government and corpo- when the boy child cannot tell
that times have been hard for rates. He intimates that the which toothbrush belongs to
theatre players. Despite the government needs to give the whom.
many changes and challenges creative industry more support, This is also a season for the
that the industry has under- especially the theatre industry temporary campo marriages.
gone, Covid-19 has to be the where most thespians rely on The daughters of Jezebel have
hardest one to surmount. But live shows for income. now lost their cool and are des-
innovativeness, and relying on The other major challenge is perately looking for the boys
God has helped him weather the lack of professionalism and that can accommodate them.
the hard times. He shares how technical know-how among ac- No more Furahiday escapades
Liquid Arts would move from tors, Tosh shares. “To this end, as the pot-bellied sponsors
staging live shows to airing I hold regular masterclasses have decided to keep at home
them live online. The ticket cost to share the knowledge I have with their families since they
was lower, but at least the cast gained over the more than 10 are also suffering from the
was still doing what they love years in the theatre and screen economic hitch. That boyfriend
while ensuring that everyone acting industry,” he says, add- she dumped in her second year
was safe and healthy. He says ing that, just like Osoro, he for a sponsor is the one feeding
potential clients would pay for has great belief in the latent her now. How things have really
the theatre ticket via mobile potential of the Kenya’s theatre changed, or is it going back to
money, and the company would industry. factory settings?
provide a link to watch the live