The Seventh edition of the Kenya International Theatre Festival is considered a special one because this time it has brought together a generation of theatre students, starting from a veteran theatre teacher, to his student, and the student’s student, all united in the world created by the legendary South African Playwright, Athol Fugard. The Island has been acquired and directed in Kenya by the playwright and acting connoisseur, Mwalimu David Mulwa. The play is set to open on Sunday 6th November 2022, at 5:00 PM, at the Kenya National Theatre main Auditorium along Harry Thuku Road.
The Island is a two-hander play. The David Mulwa production of the same, stars Dr. Emmanuel Shikuku, a theatre Lecturer and scholar, and his student, Sam Adino (Arlcons). I caught up with Dr. Shikuku and Sam, so they could share their experiences so far, working daily from 5:00 am in the rehearsals space and how it has been for them as they get directed by the outstanding thespian, David Mulwa, and a physical theatre expert, Alacoque Ntome. Here are their thoughts and experiences.
SAM ADINO as JOHN
Samson Omondi is an actor experienced in stage acting, screen acting, and voice acting. In The Island, Sam plays the role of John. His character was arrested during the apartheid regime. John is looking forward to his imminent freedom because he is set to leave The Island in only three months. Samson describes his character, Kiherehere, a chatterbox! John has a cellmate and friend, Winston. There are other notable prisoners in this prison believed to be Robben Island, including the freedom fighter, Nelson Mandiba Mandela.
How has the rehearsal process been for Sam? “It has been TOUGH!” Sam says this with a lot of emphases. He sighs. The assistant director, Alacoque Ntome is largely skilled in physical theatre, and the kind of physical activities he has been putting Sam and Shikuku through have been intense. At least Samson says things started aligning after his body started responding positively to these daily exercises. Since then, it has been like a routine, and his body is ready for the stage on the opening night scheduled for November 6th at the Kenya National Theatre.
Concerning being directed and acting with his teachers and mentors? It is an honor for Sam. Working with his teacher Shikuku on stage has opened him up to learning and knowledge-sharing opportunities, and has broken the teacher-student barrier. Moreover, being directed by his teacher and mentor David Mulwa, and working with Alacoque has also been a spellbinding experience for him. “It is great to be part of a generation of teachers and a genealogy of students”, laughs.
Sam is emphatic that The Island is the best production Kenya will ever watch.
Why you must watch The Island according to Samson: “This is a play that we are doing while acknowledging the stage as the shrine. You will laugh, and also reflect on the tough reality of what prisoners go through, and how the apartheid regime was harsh on the victims.”
Dr. EMMANUEL SHIKUKU as WINSTON
Dr. Emmanuel Shikuku is a Theatre Arts and Film Lecturer at Kenyatta University, teaching acting, directing, and children’s theatre.
Dr. Shikuku says teaching alone is not enough as theatre arts course is practical and doing performances and productions is the best way to go. Shikuku is a great fan of Athol Fugard’s work and the most outstanding statement play for him is The Island. Shikuku has always wanted to take part in The Island because of how it reflects societal happenings. The initial plan was to act in the play with his teacher, David Mulwa. However, given that Mwalimu Mulwa is now advanced in age, they thought it would be better to give him a role where he is not entirely on stage but giving directions. This is how the decision to have Mulwa direct was mooted. Now the next task was to look for an outstanding Shikuku’s student, in this case, Sam Adino.
What has the process been so far for Dr. Shikuku?
Athol Fugard has invested a lot of emotions in the play by putting two people in an island prison. It’s like a 3-tier prison. South Africa is a prison at the time of apartheid, Robben Island is a prison, and being put in solitary is the third level of prison. The play also has another play within, switching from the main play and the play within, Antigone has been the stretching point because the emotions switch very fast. The fact that the rehearsals start at 5 am every morning is something it took Shikuku time for his body to get accustomed to.
What’s Dr. Shikuku’s Relationship with Winston:
Winston has been incarcerated for life after burning his passbook in front of the police officers and he has to be behind bars for life. It pains him that he has been seeing his cellmates come and leave yet he has to be on The Island for life. The experience is emptying and agonizing. It is a deep emotion that sometimes even Shikuku himself struggles with, though he keeps readjusting. Whenever I am acting in a role, I do not judge the character. I only fit in the emotions and motivations of the character and flow with these. Winston is living his life, and that has to be it. It is history, not a joke!” Sigh.
How has the relationship with your teacher, the director, and student, and fellow actor been?
“Acting together means interdependence. We rely on each other for cues and guidance. I have to trust Sam, and he has to trust me. We are both artists. I have been trained as an artist by Mulwa, and I have trained Sam. Mulwa is my mentor and I am now mentoring Sam.” The trust and mutuality between Sam and Shikuku have led them to break the teacher-student relationship and remain as colleagues, in this case, inmates united by their commonality as the victims of the apartheid regime.
What does it mean for Shikuku to perform The Island in an international Theatre Festival?
“This is a question of human sacrifice and we must tell this story. Many people celebrated Nelson Mandela for being a freedom fighter but almost no one entered his mind to feel his deep anguish and reach his level of resilience. The play is highly emotional and it would be great if everyone entered the lives of these characters.”
On Sunday, November 6th at 5:00 pm, come to have an appointment with Samson Adino and Dr. Emmanuel Shikuku as they breathe life through the characters holed up behind prison bars at Robben Island. Directed by David Mulwa and assistant directed by Ntome Alacoque. The students’ show will be on Thursday, 11 am. A repeat show will be on the same day at 5 pm