For the first time in the 30-year history of the MUSON Festival, two distinct stage plays are on the menu for this edition. Scheduled for Saturday, October 31, 2026 at the Agip Recital Hall, MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, Wanted In-laws and Jigida, both offering refreshing and fascinating storylines, will keep the audience rooted to their seats while exploring contemporary concerns.
Sponsored through the joint venture of NNPC and Chevron, the day’s curtain raiser (Matinee), is Jigida, a compelling drama about equality and social justice, which begins by noon. While the evening performance, Wanted In-Laws, kicks off by 6pm.
The two comedies are written and directed by Leke Gbolade, one of the three Nigerian theatre directors/producers at the inaugural Lagos Theatre Festival and Technical Director for two seasons of Mamma Mia! Nigeria.
In an interview, Gbolade said: “live theatre is not for the faint-hearted because it confronts audiences with choices that fear, culture and religion would normally stop them from making. Wanted In-Laws is brutally honest, but deeply satisfying to experience.”
Wanted In-Laws stars Patrick Diabuah, Nini Mbonu, Omololu Sodiya, Gold Ikponmwosa and Tola Adeleye. In the drama, a wife commits what her in-laws consider an “abominable act” against her husband. They invade the couple’s troubled home to castigate her. But events take an unexpected turn when the husband and wife, who are not even on speaking terms, choose to take sides with each other in defense of their home.
On the other hand, Jigida is set in an idyllic village. Gripped by fear and tradition, the men, under the guise of performing rites to cleanse the land, trade young girls. For years, the women are silent until they are not. Jigida is a bold, musical, and unapologetically feminist folk comedy about power, complicity, and what happens when women decide that enough is enough. It stars: Ken Ayeni, Najite Dede, Davidson David, Oluwole Muyiwa Moses, Alidou Samuel Boluwatife, amongst others.
The 2026 MUSON Festival is billed to run from October 23 to November 8, 2026, with a fascinating lineup of events including 10 major concerts, and a symposium. It will feature a medley of classical music, jazz, operatic performances, theatre, exhibitions, and youths programmes. The 2026 episode of the festival is particularly significant as it brings together four major milestones: 43 years of MUSON Centre, 37 years of the MUSON Basic School of Music, 30 years of the MUSON Festival and 20 years of the MUSON School of Music Diploma Programme sponsored by the MTN Foundation. The general public is invited.