Wangarĩ Maathai
Too Early for Birds returns in April with the staging of its ninth show at the Jain Bhavan Auditorium in Loresho.
Fifteen years after her passing, the collective is staging the story of Wangarĩ Maathai. This edition will explore different facets of her life as a mother, professor, Member of Parliament, assistant minister, activist, writer, farmer and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, an honour she received on December 10, 2004.
The production celebrates her work in environmental conservation, community development and sustainable development. Too Early for Birds is known for historical productions grounded in extensive research and compelling storytelling. Tom Mboya, which they staged in 2024 and which examined the leader’s life and legacy, was among the biggest plays of that year.
Redemption
The late Prof David Mulwa’s play Redemption will be staged by the Kenya National Theatre in March.
The production features veteran actors Ian Mbugua, Arabron Osanya and Muthoni Gatheca, alongside Nyakundi Isaboke, Cosmas Kirui, Anne Kiveli, Fischer Maina, John Gat Man, Caroline Adongo and Lucarelli Onyango.
“The shows that KNT will be producing will bring together both veterans of the stage and young actors. The veterans are passing on knowledge and expertise to the younger generation,” says Steenie Njoroge, the director.
The play was first produced in 1989, when Njoroge served as an actor, director and stage manager. He played Antoninus Mudemba, the son-in-law of Mulwa’s main character. Revisiting the script years later, Njoroge approached it with fresh eyes, modernising some aspects to make it more relatable to contemporary audiences without altering the core story.
“We wanted to stage the play when Mulwa was still alive, but now it has become a way of keeping his memory alive. It is nostalgic and an honour,” he says.
Matatu Musical
As the country heads towards an election year, more political plays are expected on stage. Matatu Musical is a political satire that explores corruption, broken promises, governance, and the people’s defiance and resilience.
It also reflects defining moments in Kenya’s history, from the spirit of Harambee unity and subsequent ethnic divisions, to the one-party state era, the 1982 coup attempt, the multiparty struggles of the 1990s, the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution and recent cycles of debt and unfulfilled pledges.
Presented at the Kenya National Theatre from January 22 to 25, the play stars Suzanne Karani and Thuita Christopher and is directed by Gilbert Lukalia.
“Music represents the passengers’ voice as we sing through pain and chaos. It is what causes revolutions,” says playwright George Ndech.
The Vagina Monologues
Director and actor Hillary Namanje will be directing the staging of this classic at the Little Theatre Club in Mombasa.
Written by V, formerly Eve Ensler, The Vagina Monologues has been performed in more than 140 countries. First staged in 1994, the play is based on 200 interviews conducted with women about sexuality, as well as the social stigma surrounding rape and abuse.
Namanje says the production has been adapted to focus on female genital mutilation, following a moving account shared by a woman during a creatives’ workshop in Mombasa. The episodic play will be staged later this year, with Stephanie Maseki among the cast.
Udugu
In his pursuit of original plays that draw from diverse cultures, Tasha Mitambo is staging Udugu, a poetic taarab storytelling piece that highlights community struggles through coastal music.
“The community in this production grapples with issues such as forced marriages between cousins, often reinforced by religion. Khadija is one of the main characters who overcomes such an arrangement and leads the community in confronting the practice,” says Mitambo.
The play will be staged at a venue yet to be announced in Nairobi during the first half of the year.
Rings and Red Flags
Rings and Red Flags, a Valentine’s romance comedy by Igiza Arts, brings together three couples living in the same apartment block as they face an impending rent deadline.
The pressure forces the couples to confront the red flags they have long ignored in their relationships. Scripted and directed by Martin Abuya, the play will be staged on February 14 and 15 at the Kenya National Theatre.