Jos Repertory Theatre (JRT) will mark its 25th anniversary as a performing arts outfit with two most popular productions in its repertoire – Tosin Oshinaike’s ‘Wat’s Dis All About’, and Zulu Sofola’s ‘Wedlock of the Gods’.
Both productions will be staged on the 7th and 8th of November at the Alliance Francais, Jos, Plateau State; and on the 14th and 15th of November, 2025 at the British Council, Abuja.
Based on the premise – what would you do if the messiah came today? – Oshinaike’s ‘Wat’s Dis All About?’ gives room for all sorts of opinion and expectation, from the common man on the street waiting for bread, and the rich man intent on moulding more blocks to build bigger mansions.
Sofola’s ‘Wedlock of the Gods’ is often described as the African Romeo and Juliet. However, JRT approaches the play as a case study of the lengths one is willing to live and die for. Based on the production’s setting, when a man dies and leaves behind a young bride, she must marry the dead husband’s brother. However, when the young widow, forced to marry her deceased husband, decides to marry her heart-throb, her mother-in-law, who believed her son was murdered, sets out on a revenge mission. The play ends tragically for the lovers, their families and the community.
An exhibition featuring images and objects from the JRT archives spanning its creation within the past 25 years of existence is also scheduled for the celebration.
Founded 25 years ago by Dr Patrick Jude Oteh and his deceased wife, JRT has achieved its vision of creating unforgettable theatrical performances and collaborations in the arts and related disciplines through consistent presentation of live performances, play readings, radio drama, and development theatre activities in communities that have helped address healing, integration, gender issues, and tolerance. Along the way, it has impacted tens to hundreds of lives and flourished careers in the creative industry.
The British Council supports the anniversary as part of its Creative Showcase Programme, an initiative aimed at strengthening local creative communities through access to resources and space for showcasing their works. Additional support comes from the MacArthur Foundation, Grand Towers, Maisie Pearl, and Oluwanifemi Bolatito Foundation, among other individual supporters in Jos and Abuja.
