BY Margaretta wa Gacheru (posted 21 August)
Ever since
the Kenya National Theatre got its ‘extreme makeover’ with assistance from East
African Breweries back in 2015, the Theatre has been blessed with one major
musical production after another.
Thanks mainly
to the Nairobi Performing Arts Studio, we’ve seen beautiful performances of
everything from Jesus Christ Superstar and Grease to Sarafina most recently.
And now that
‘Tinga Tinga Tales the Musical’ is coming to KNT next Friday to run for the
whole of September, Kenyans will have a chance to see one of the most
exhilerating, original and heart-warming productions that has yet to grace the
National Theatre stage.
Originally
based on the animated ‘Tinga Tinga Tales’ that kids can still see Saturday
mornings on TV, it was when TTT’s producer Claudia Lloyd got together with
Kenya’s own acclaimed singer-songwriter Eric Wainaina that the live and
oh-so-magical musical production came into being.
First staged
at The Elephant in Lavington in 2016, TTT the Musical was a smash hit. However,
some theatre lovers guessed the show was mainly for children, which it is.
But given
the quality of the casting, costuming, choreography, storytelling and Eric’s
electrifying music (including five new songs), this new version of Tinga Tinga
Tales is more than a must-see production.
It’s a show
that is already making history as it’s booked to premier at the New Victory
Theatre in New York City’s famous 42nd Street District, from October
16th through the end of the month.
TTTTM is not
the first major musical production that Eric Wainaina and Sheba Hirst have
taken to New York. In 2009, they brought ‘Mofaya’ including its all-Kenyan cast
to feature in the New York Musical Theatre Festival.
Eric was the
composer and musical director of Mofaya, just as he is for TTTTM. He also co-starred
then as now with an outstanding cast. Only this time, he’s got an even larger
and more melodious cast. And as marvelous as the original TTTTM cast was in
2016, only Eric (as Monkey), Elsaphan Njora (playing Tortoise) and Karimi Wamae
(as Butterfly) are still there.
Auditions
for new cast members incited an array of amazing young theatrical talents to
come out and get into the show. “They can all dance, sing and act brilliantly,”
according to Claudia Lloyd who with Eric and Sheba hand-picked a cast that
includes a stunning team of Kenyans whose voices will ring as clearly as
crystal bells thanks to the sound crew and superlative equipment that have been
brought in specially for this show.
Starting
with the former radio broadcaster Eddy Kimani who plays Lion, there’s Ray (aka
Raaay!) Kibet as Elephant, Atemi Oyungu as Hippo, Alvan Gatitu as Chameleon,
Kendi Nkonge as the Queen Bee, and Nyokabi Macharia (who just played Legends
last week in The Brazen Edition of Too Early for Birds) as Giraffe.
And while
Eric is the master mind and maestro of the show, TTTTM shines a light on all in
this exceptional cast who’ve been rigorously rehearsing under Claudia Lloyd’s
professional direction for weeks.
There are so
many exceptional aspects of this production that will hopefully compel both
parents with children and all other theatre-lovers to come out in support of
this show. The lighting, sound and all the other technical details are being
cared for by professionals. The make-up will be magical and even the costuming
will be provided by Kiko Romeo.
And then
because the seats at National Theatre have such high backs that little people
won’t be able to sit and see the stage, Tinga Rain Productions (which is Sheba)
ordered 280 zebra-covered cushions so that every child will be able to sit and
see everything happening on and off the stage.
The other
thing that’s a major change in the theatre is the decision to extend the stage
over the orchestra pit. That way, performers can be closer to their audience
and there’ll be more room for the Festival of Colors and other magical events
that will come alive as the tinga tinga tales are dramatized and told.
Fortunately,
Safaricom and the Mount Kenya Nature Conservancy are partially sponsoring the
show. But as the production is being run by perfectionists, the costs of the
show are high, as are the tickets. The good thing is that a free tickets will
be given away daily during the show through Capital FM radio.
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