The popular play ‘The King Must Dance Naked’, is being staged at the iconic Glover Memorial Hall, Lagos, from Friday, December 15, to Sunday, December 31, 2023.
Written by ace playwright and lawyer Fred Agbeyegbe in 1983, the story dwells on the unbalanced laws guiding human existence and how a queen tried to twist them.
The play, which is co-directed by actor Toritseju Ejoh, is produced by Olu Jacobs and Adesoji Jacobs, while Joke Silva is the executive producer.
Silva, who is the co-CEO of both Lufodo Productions and Glover Memorial Hall, stated that they decided to go for the play because of its cultural richness.
She said, “For many years, we have been seeing a lot of modern plays, but we feel it will be very interesting to bring back another one of our plays that is culturally rich and relevant.”
On the relevance of the play in present-day Nigeria, Ejoh stressed that the nakedness in the context was not derogatory but represents the true form of an idea.
He said, “A king will not bathe himself when he transitions. Rather, some other people will bathe him. So, what does he have to hide?
“The play, therefore, is introspect to leadership, to the test of the quality of a leader who is willing to be accountable. That’s what the play is actually asking. Is leadership willing to be accountable?”
Ejoh added that the play was in celebration of Adeyegbe’s 88th birthday.
