As anticipation builds for the Lagos International Theatre Festival (LITF), veteran actor and playwright Bimbo Manuel is set to captivate audiences with his new play, “The Call”. Premiering on Saturday, November 16, at the Agip Hall of the Muson Centre, Onikan, the production promises a gripping narrative brought to life by Toyin Oshinaike under the direction of Bisi Adigun. Ahead of the premiere, Manuel sat down with TheLagosReview’s Terh Agbedeh during an exclusive preview event to discuss the inspiration behind “The Call,” his vision for the production and what audiences can expect from the play that also stars Ropo Ewenla.
Terh Agbedeh: I enjoyed that. I enjoyed it thoroughly.
Bimbo Manuel:Thank you.
It was as if you were talking to me.
Wow.
And I think you took a long time in putting this script together. What inspired it, how long have you worked on it and is it part of the Lagos International Theatre Festival?
Ok, first off, yes, “The Call” is one of the plays at the Lagos International Theatre Festival. This is my entry, the entry of my company, Cheeky Dog Productions Limited.
And yes, the story itself and the first draft didn’t take a long time, to be honest.
However, as is tradition, we tested it with different people who have knowledge about storytelling, about theatre, about drama. We tested it on different levels. You heard me in there when I was saying that one of the people who came for our preview had read it, and she provided counsel.
So, it took a while but not because we were still working on it. It was because it was just there, I was working on other stage plays.
But I’m sure you went back to it from time to time.
Well, you know, for me at least. I don’t know how other playwrights do that, but when I write a piece, after I feel that it is ok, I’m done with it, I leave it to settle before I go back to it.
This had been ready since like 2020 or 2021 but the opportunity to present it just never presented itself.
Does it mean you did it during the lookdown?
Yes, during the lookdown. It was about that time.
Whose idea was it to cast Toyin Oshinaike?
That was the director’s idea. With a little prodding from me of course, because from the very beginning we just seemed to have a confluence about who should play Evangelist Tosin. And when he mentioned it, I just said, ‘yeah, that’s the guy, that’s the guy’.
You seem to be very happy with your decision.
Obviously.
Have you had any conflict with the director on the play?
No, we have not had any crisis at all. If you know Bisi, it is very difficult to have any conflict with him. Of course, he is a man who knows what he wants, he can also defend his decisions. And I’m also the kind of person that believes that if I do not like it, or I do not understand it, so I ask you a question. Usually, those things start with a question for me. And if you are able to articulate your decision to me, whatever defence you have, if it is believable, I leave it. And that is how we have worked. If there is any conflict between the director and the producer, it cannot be brought to fruition.
The songs work for me. They are familiar and I like them.
It was deliberate.
But there is a song the evangelist sings. It sounds like that was composed and do you feel that if you had composed all the songs, “The Call” would have been a different play?
I think it would have been a totally different play because in the first place, when I was writing, I was looking for a piece that connects with the people in the hall. I looked forward to singalongs. People can join the actor and the choir in singing because they know the songs. From that kind of connection you can build a penetration into the mind of the audience. Because, if you cannot enter the mind of the audience I do not think you have quite succeeded.
You must intend for the play to travel. Do you already have places you are going to take it?
We are just taking things one step at a time. You see, it would be very easy to think that this is a Christian piece but it is a social piece, we just used religion to platform the issues that we were driving into. So, it can go anywhere. We are hopeful that it will travel but it is not as if we have anything preconceived that right after this we are going to. No, we are just open. Offers will come. We are hopeful. Then we will be able to do the full version of the play.
So it is going to be on at the Muson Centre?
Saturday and Sunday, Muson Centre, Agip Hall, November 16 and 17 at 5.30 pm.
Where do we get the tickets?
It is online as part of the Lagos International Theatre Festival.
Thank you so much
Thank you my brother
