Should the State bail out Phoenix Players Theatre?

Zippy Okoth

The Government should bail out Phoenix Players Theatre for a dozen of reasons. The country will lose so much if we allow it  to go down the drain without putting in any effort. The theatre is and has been a hub for artists, many of whom have gone on to launch different successful careers in the entertainment industry. For nurturing talents since it was formed, we should be proud of its existence. Phoenix Theatre gave exposure to budding artists because it offered affordable space for upcoming theatre groups. It is also a historical theatre space, which, should in fact be a cultural and performance museum in terms of conservation of the growth of theatre in Kenya. If you ask me, we should make it a national monument.

However, for Phoenix to pass the test of time and serve the purpose it was created for, a few changes need to be made. Firstly, it should hire a competent manager and be self-sufficient financially. Theatre is expensive, but with competent, interesting productions and good marketing, the audience will come back and pay big money. The theatre should also be renovated and modern equipment installed. Phoenix should also be registered as a company and mandated to nurture theatre talent. The government and all Kenyans of goodwill should not let Phoenix Players Theatre go into oblivion. We could regret in future.