Casting has been announced for Rotimi Babatunde’s stage adaptation of Lola Shoneyin’s The Secret Lives Of Baba Segi’s Wives at the Arcola Theatre.
Following his performance in the sell-out National Theatre production Barber Shop Chronicles, Patrice Naiambana will star as Baba Segi in Arcola Theatre’s The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives.
The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives is a scandalous, engrossing tale of sexual politics and family strife in modern-day Nigeria. Lola Shoneyin’s bestselling novel bursts on to the stage in a vivid adaptation by Caine Award-winning playwright Rotimi Babatunde. Femi Elufowoju, jr directs a multi-talented West African ensemble in the UK premiere production, featuring live Yoruba music, songs and dance.
The cast also includes Jumoké Fashola (Inspirit, BBC Radio London’s Sunday Breakfast Show; Dirty Little Secrets, London Festival of Cabaret), Christina Oshunniyi (Ife, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Africa Center; One Session, First Star Studios), Layo-Christina Akinlude (The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare’s Globe; The Cane, Bush Theatre), and Marcy Dolapo Oni (Iya-Ile, Soho Theatre; The Marcy Project, OHTV) will appear as Baba Segi and his wives.
The cast will also include Ayo-Dele Edwards (The Estate, Soho Theatre; The Lion and the Jewel, Royal Court Theatre), Tania Nwachukwu (The Dissidents, Tricycle Theatre; The Happy Theory, The Yard Theatre), Diana Yekinni (The Crucible, UK tour; Fringe First Winner Expensive Shit, Edinburgh Fringe), Ayan De First (Makinde, Ovalhouse; Ticket & Ties, Theatre Royal Stratford East), and Usifu Jalloh (Sweetpeter, UK tour; Ticket & Ties, Theatre Royal Stratford East).
This exceptional production will be uniquely performed in the round in the Arcola’s main space using an ensemble featuring actor-musicians led by Ayan De First and Usifu Jalloh. At times, the entire ensemble becomes an acoustic band with traditional instruments used including Omele drum, Gbedu drum, Fulani flute, thumb pianos, shekeres, Iya Ilu talking drums, djembes, and Apala drum.
Baba Segi has three wives, seven children, and a mansion filled with riches. But now he has his eyes on Bolanle, a young university graduate wise to life’s misfortunes. When Bolanle responds to Baba Segi’s advances, she unwittingly uncovers a secret which threatens to rock his patriarchal household to the core.
The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives will play at the Arcola Theatre from 7 June to 21 July 2018 and is suitable for ages 18+
