Freedom Park came alive on Febryary 23,2016, as Lagos Theatre Festival, the biggest performing arts ever held in Nigeria kicked off. During the 6-day festival, art lovers and enthusiasts will enjoy over 100 shows across 17 venues in Lagos. “Lagos Theatre Festival is part of the collaboration between the UK and Nigeria in art and culture. The Festival promises to be an extravaganza with plays taking place on the Island and Mainland parts of Lagos… with fringe events taking place all around Lagos. We are going to enjoy single day of the Festival,” said Connie Price, Country Director of the British Council. Mr. Folorunsho Folarin-Coker, the Lagos Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism commended the British Council and the team behind the Festival. He also expressed the state government’s commitment to supporting the arts in various forms. “I will like to commend all the staff, the theatre companies, and partners that have worked hard to put this Festival together. We can put together a performing arts sector that can rival any one in the world, and we are prepared to engage you to find ways these can be achieved,” said Coker. “I am keen to see how we can use creativity and talent that exist in this sector to address the myriad of challenges in the mega-city we so love. I look forward to watching some of the shows over the next few days and hope that, like me, you will not only attend but will invite others to do so”. Guests present at the event include Bridget Oyefeso–Odusanmi, First Bank Head of Sponsorships, Yeni Kuti, Kemi ‘Lala’ Akindoju, Wana Udobang, David Evans from the National Theatre in Wales, Bikiya Graham–Douglas, and more. Guests were entertained by Isaac Geralds, and Pelumi, a spoken word artiste. Tickets can be purchased from the box office at Freedom Park or TerraKulture, and online from NaijaTicketShop and Dealdey.com. Lagos Theatre Festival 2016 is part of the UK/Nigeria 2015–16, a major season of arts in Nigeria aimed at building new audiences, creating new collaborations and strengthening relationships between the UK and Nigeria.
