JRT, Norwegian Theatric Duo Premieres Pidgin Adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s Works, Cripplewolf On April 15

Jos Repertory Theatre (JRT) in collaboration with theatric duo British Actress Kate Pendry, and Audun Aschim will stage Cripplewolf, a pidgin adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s play Little Eyolf at the Brazilian Embassy Amphitheatre on April 15 at 6pm.

The duo will further work with JRT’s actors at a weeklong workshop set for April 15 – 20, aimed at pidgin adaptation of Ibsen’s The Master Builder and Ghosts leading up to the command performances of both plays at the 2025 Jos International Festival of Theatre.

Cripplework is pertinent in Nigeria’s contemporary society as it explores friendship, family, conflict and societal pressures. In the play, Pendry and Aschim push the boundaries of their artistic expressions, as they interpret Little Eyolf in a manner that allows the female characters more nuance and complexity beyond the traditional readings of Ibsen’s work.

Pendry and Aschim who have distinguished themselves as a performance duo whose transdisciplinary stage acts blends unperformable subjects with accessible modern musical expressions in unpredictable spaces, whilst also commenting on the disharmonies of contemporary society, will work with the workshop participants in the preliminary re-writing and re-creation of Ibsen’s The Master Builder and Ghosts.

The performances will combine scripted and improvised music and text. Pendry’s voice acts like another instrument whilst Aschim via his guitar provides a filmic soundtrack to the text. Together, they will create a mythopoetic space through sonic shadows of just the two performers on stage.

Plans are also underway for Studio musical recordings to make the plays more accessible and readable to the Nigerian public prior to the performances premiere in 2025.

The promising weeklong interactions between the workshop participants and the facilitators, with expectations of an album recording, will lay the groundwork for Raise Am! an Ibsenique production blending the Nigerian, Norwegian-British theatre traditions.

“It will be interesting to find out how Ibsen’s works will resonate and read in a Pidgin English setting. The workshop will set the tone for what to expect,” said JRT and Jos International Festival of Theatre Director, Dr Patrick Jude-Oteh.