How I became theatre director before age 18 – Enioluwa Adeoluwa

Enioluwa Adeoluwa, 18, is founder of Trinkedin, an organisation that offers media services. A 400 Level student of Ekiti State University, Department of Theatre and Media Arts, he is also a director, actor and dancer. 

You wrote and directed a colonial era stage play at the recently concluded National Universities Theatre Arts Festival (NUTAF) which took place in Jos, Plateau State. What inspired the script?

Basically, I thought about connecting bridges, which was the theme for the 2018 NUTAF that we were all given. Firstly, I understood the fact that a lot of people may expect the usual political stories along Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa lines. I wanted a mix of tradition and popular culture, because a lot of people may not be interested if it isn’t traditional. The same may be the case if I make it a totally modern tale. If you noticed, most of the dance in the drama was contemporary. There was the Fela type of dance which trends because of Terra Kulture.

What I was trying to do was to show we have our basic culture, traditions, norms and values, but yet we are not lost. Most of the slangs used are still trending up till now. I wanted to ensure the audience weren’t lost so they get the impact of our culture.

What was the central message you wanted to pass across?

The central message was connecting bridges. At the end of the play, the last two persons, the man and the lady who were still alive, we used as a point of contact, connecting bridges. They were used as a symbol of connecting bridges, which implied the coming together of a people. I tried to ensure the bridge was broken at the beginning. If you watched the play critically, you will know that two people came out with a pot of fire that went off at a particular point in time. That was when the bridge was broken. It was later reconnected, showing that it’s is the best thing.

How did directing, script writing and acting all begin for you?

I had always been involved with the arts from childhood. I also have had a speedy education being that I am eighteen and already in my 400 Level in the university. Most of the time, I have had little choice than to play with those older than I am. I also attended a music school at an early age. I played the clarinet and joined the choir a long time ago. I was also in drama club and had background knowledge of it. I tried as much as possible to know all aspects of theatre and started directing from 100 Level. 

What would you say led to the strengthening of your directing skills?

I directed a screen play in 100 Level that made my lecturer notice me and began to nurture that particular talent. I brought a screen drama to stage which was technical. I was made to continue directing and directed my class in a theatre production workshop, ‘Theatre for Development’.