Nakuru County Government in partnership with the National Government and other private players have combined to train selected theatre companies drawn from the County through a two-month programme dubbed ‘County Theatre Fiesta’.
The County Culture Officer Erick Muriuki, who was in today’s workshop noted that the County government is at the forefront of supporting the creative industry, even as the county administration is in its early stages of coming up with cultural and creative policies.
Kenya Cultural Centre (KCC- NT) Communication Officer Lucy Karaya said the agency has sourced experts who have excelled in the theatre industry to train the participants on key elements of producing a quality theatre production, scripting, directing, acting, marketing and publicity, theatre lighting and sound, stage management, production design and producing.
Other partners on board are the Kenya National Theatre, the Kenya International Theatre Festival, the American Corner and the Nakuru Players Theatre among others. The program which is being rolled out in six Counties is in line with the National Government’s Talanta Hela Initiative programme administered by the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Arts and Sports.
The director of the Nakuru Players’ Theater, Joseph Maina, alias Babushe, commended the government for eventually realizing the importance of training actors, as a way of creating employment and hopefully making the country a film powerhouse.
He bemoaned the misplaced believe of many young actors, who aren’t willing to be trained because they mistakenly imagine that talent was everything. But, he advised all talented people in whichever field to appreciate that without proper training achievement was curtailed.
Babushe, who has acted in many locals plays, said lack of jobs has pushed a lot of young people into theatre, with the fallacious certainty, that it was an easier and faster way of making money.
However, he noted that it took him over ten years to be noticed by UNESCO, and what made him to persist and endure the tuberous years was a searing passion, that rejected any negative thoughts because he knew his life was on stage and nowhere else.
He has fond memories of his acting year’s in ‘Tausi,’ Tushauriane’, and’ plot ten’ that made locals to be glued on their screens every Sunday evening, adding that he looks forward to those golden years of theatre in the country.
Additionally, he said the country has numerous raw talent right away from ECD to university, and added this is annually evident during the National Drama Competition.
By Veronica Bosibori
