Play Chronicling Life of Ken Saro-Wiwa Premieres in Dublin

The World Premiere of the play Uhta! The Last Part of the Night took place in the Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin on Tuesday and Wednesday last, February 23/24.

The play, directed by Justin MacGregor, recounts the struggle of environmentalists in Nigeria and focuses on Ken Saro-Wiwa, a Nobel Prize Nominee, and his powerful friendship with Sr. Majella McCarron, OLA. The play fuses traditional Western performance techniques with West African music, dance and storytelling.

Sr. Majella first met Mr. Saro-Wiwa while she was lecturing at the University of Lagos in 1993. Sr. Majella, a keen social justice activist, soon befriended Ken and subsequently became his messenger between prison and the outside world. During this time, Mr. Saro-Wiwa sent 28 letters and 27 poems to Sr. Majella. These letters and poems have since been donated by her to Maynooth University to form part of the Ken Saro-Wiwa Archive at the third level institute. The letters and poems also formed the basis of a book on his life, which was authored by his daughter, Noo Saro-Wiwa. 

In advance of the premiere, Justin MacGregor spoke with Arena on RTE Radio 1. Listen back to the interview by clicking on link below (begins at minute 30):

http://www.rte.ie/radio/utils/radioplayer/rteradioweb.html#!rii=9:10531604:1526:22-02-2016

Pictures below are courtesy of Tom Maher, Smock Alley Theatre.

Actor Uché Gabriel Akujobi (left), who played the role of Ken Saro-Wiwa, in                                   conversation with Sr. Majella (centre foreground).

 Standing ovation for cast of Utha! The Last Part of the Night, at the Smock Alley                                 Theatre, Dublin.