This was their chance – staged for 70th anniversary of Epe Grammar School
By Editor
ON Wednesday, November 20, 2024, the students of Epe Grammar Dchool, Epe, Lagos State, Nigeria aged between 13 – 16, performed the 1st Nigerian play-in-print This Is Our Chance on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the school. Written by James Ene Henshaw, the play was staged with the tacit support of James Ene Henshaw Jnr., who was approached by Mr. Peter Olorunnisomo, an alumni and accomplished veteran playwright, poet, actor and director with experience on stage and television in Nigeria and the UK. The performance was administratively supervised by Mrs. Ndionofit, former HOD and Director of Education, ably assisted by Mrs. Abisola Olaleye, who coordinated the actors and crew for the performance. Mrs. Olivet Odunsi was in charge of stage and costumes, Mrs. Mosebolatan was make-up manager, and Mr. Babatunde Goodluck dualised as Asstant Director and Stage/Manager.
The play’s performance enjoyed the support of the Old Students’ Association in Nigeria and in diaspora and its Executive Committee, led by Mrs. Olushola Alade-Raji, the Anniversary Committee led by Mr. Jafaar Sanuth, retired State Permanent Secretary and Chairman of the Commitee, the principals and staff of both the Senior and Junior Schools, and members of EGOSAN and school students, who stretched the capacity of the school hall beyond hundreds to be caught up in the excitement and suspense the performers created.
The idea of the play was mooted by Mr. Olorunnisomo, who was a staunch member of the School’s Literary and Debating Society, and wrote the play, A Clash of Gods performed by the students under the supervision of Mr. Labjohn in 1978, the then French teacher. He recalled that the play This Is Our Chance was staged around 1977, but it did not enjoy as much attention, which the 70th anniversary celebration of the school gave it.
The performance of the students, no doubt, will long be spoken about if it does not renew the zeal of the staff and students to higher levels of literary engagement. The performance was over an hour, and the celebration that climaxed the play was contagious among the audience in the hall.
This Is Our Chance was live-streamed on Facebook to allow all EGOSANS who couldn’t be present physically witness the event digitally.
