Lola Shoneyin’s novel arrives on the Arcola Theatre stage with an adaptation by Rotimi Babatunde.
Casting for Femi Elufowoju, jr’s production has been confirmed and is set to include: Patrice Naiambana (Barbershop Chronicles, National Theatre; The Caretaker, Bristol Old Vic), 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.
Meanwhile, the cast will also feature 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).
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.
Talking about the production, Femi Elufowoju jr said: “Working in global theatre, this is arguably the most important piece I have had the good fortune of embracing. It takes stumbling upon an obscure, albeit enchanting, novel eight years ago to realising its transition to national theatre stages in Nigeria and now the UK, to understand the true purpose and magic of crafting theatre. The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives encapsulates quite remarkably the universal theme of paternity fraud and human endurance, and is told through a riveting narrative accompanied by searing live music, song and dance. If it’s the last thing I present in British theatre – it’ll certainly be my proudest contribution to its grand design.”
The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives will play at the Arcola Theatre from the 7th June until the 21st July. For more information visit: https://www.arcolatheatre.com/event/secret-lives-baba-segis-wives/