Cast celebrate successful US tour

omotolani

March 9, 2018 6:48 PM

Fafunwa reveals that following the successful winter showing, the show has been garnering invites from all over the world.

Now, more than ever, theres a strong call-to-action for powerful feminist messages and director, Ifeoma Fafunwa is doing just that with her stage play "Hear Word".

The playwright and director is celebrating a successful tour in the US and performing at the Loeb Drama Center, Harvard University.

For the International Women’s Week, the cast comprising of Joke Silva, Ufuoma Mcdermott, Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, Elvina Ibru, Rita Edward, Deborah Ohiri, Omonor, and Odenike on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, hosted theatre enthusiast to a lovely soiree at Roots Bar as they discussed the role of the play in bringing gender parity to light.

Fafunwa does not hold back on her subjects, addressing themes like marital abuse, rape, sexual harassment in the workforce, underage pregnancy, widow confinement, and sex.

But what does performing at Harvard mean for the play?

Following the successful winter showing, it's only right that the group spreads its very important message across the world.

Fafunwa on the success of the play, says the show has been garnering invites from all over the world. In her words, letters have been pouring in from Australia, London, Canada, Brazil and around Africa.

“So we believe that we will be touring. We believe that the message we bring is universal and relevant. There is a global movement towards gender equality and so we find that we are very relevant. Given that, we believe that we are going to be moving around the world for the next three years and that there will be more parts,” she promises.

Also speaking at the ceremony Elvina Ibru, described the drama as a series of monologues about the plight of the Nigerian woman and the issues that surround them from child abuse to problems with health to certain peculiar cultures or traditions to just individual pressure.

“So there are a few scenes that are peculiar to Nigeria. But generally, the stories can be related to women from all over the world. And more importantly, it is not a man-bashing drama. The message is even more to women than men,” she stated.

And for Nollywood actress Ufuoma McDermott, the play touches on everything a woman goes through in society. "This is not just a play for you to come, relax, watch and go home. What we do is while you are laughing, we throw in a message. And that is why it is called Listen (Hear Word),” she said.

About The Play "Hear Word"

Written by the brilliant Nigerian writer and director Ifeoma Fafunwa and featuring a stellar cast of ten Nigerian actresses supported by three percussionists, the production shares the experiences of Nigerian women of all ages.

The play highlights the sufferings of women in Nigeria and in so doing it raises fundamental questions about nation-building and social ethics. The play is deeply entertaining as it is profoundly philosophical. It dives straight into their struggles with relationships and gender identity through a series of vignettes delivered through monologues, dancing, and singing.

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