With a stellar cast of top-notch stage and screen performers, including Tunji Sotimirin, Yemi Shodimu, Francis Onwochei, Ropo Ewenla, Bukky Ogunnote, and others, the performance spiced with lavish spectacles – music, dance, poetry and more — is expected to set the mood for a theatre-filled Yuletide in Nigeria’s prime city of culture production and expression
AFTER a 3-day successful run of the theatre scene in Abuja last week, Femi Osofisan’s classic play, “Once Upon Four Robbers” will berth at the Agip Hall, MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, Saturday, December 21 and Sunday, December 22.
The performance which received critical acclaim in Abuja, will be staged at 3pm and 6pm on each of the two dates, and tickets could be procured online, [ou4r.miscell.com.ng] (https://ou4r.miscell.com.ng) or at the venue, ccording to the promoters
With a stellar cast of top-notch stage and screen performers, including Tunji Sotimirin, Yemi Shodimu, Francis Onwochei, Ropo Ewenla, Bukky Ogunnote, and others, the performance laced with lavish spectacles – music, dance, poetry and more — is expected to set the mood for a theatre-filled Yuletide in Nigeria’s prime city of culture production and expression.
“Once Upon Four Robbers is more than just a play—it’s a celebration of Nigerian culture, resilience, and storytelling. We’ve poured our hearts into this, and we’re excited to share it with Lagos,” said ‘Dire Badejo, Director of the play, who graduated as best directing students from the premiere University of Ibadan, and is already appraised a rising star in the theatre profession.
“This production is a tribute to the power of theater to connect, inspire, and spark conversation. Audiences are in for a treat,” remarked veteran actor and on-air media personality, Yemi Shodimu.
Another veteran performer, Bukky Ogunnote, said, “Bring your loved ones and immerse yourselves in a night of unforgettable storytelling. Lagos, let’s make history together!”
Promoters of the play, Sir Semoore Badejo said, “Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the magic of live theater.”
AT the end of the command performance during the 3-day run at the NAF Conference Centre, Prof. Femi Osofisan, the renowned playwright, who was present, reflected on the continued relevance of his play, originally written decades ago, in addressing contemporary social issues.
“I’m surprised that this play, written so many years ago, still resonates today,” Osofisan said. “It reflects the enduring nature of the challenges we face as a society.”
One of the supporting corporate organisations, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) reiterated its commitment to promoting patriotism and integrity as vital elements for Nigeria’s progress.
Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPCL, who represented the organisation said, the message in the play aligns well with the Federal Government’s “Change Begins With Us” initiative, which aims to encourage moral and civic responsibility among citizens.
Soneye stated. “This play serves as a reminder that positive change begins with individuals. It highlights the importance of patriotism, moral values, and integrity in building a better society.”
He added, “For our country to develop, we must embody these values in our daily lives. NNPCL will continue to support initiatives like this that inspire positive transformation. Expressing gratitude to Prof. Osofisan, the production team, and the audience, Soneye remarked, “We are proud to have contributed to this production and will remain committed to supporting similar endeavors that promote these ideals.
Director of the play, Dire Badejo, shared his inspiration for selecting Once Upon Four Robbers as a medium to spark societal introspection.
He said, “At the start of the year, I sought a play that would critically examine the root causes of our societal issues. After much consideration, I chose this work for its powerful message… Thanks to NNPCL’s sponsorship, we were able to realise this vision.”
Badejo concluded, “This production is a call for self-reflection and a reminder of the power of individual actions in shaping our collective future.”
About the play:
WRITTEN between 1976 and 1978, Once upon Four Robbers, according to the Osofisan Theatre scholar, Dr Sola Adeyemi, is, one of the series of drama texts that Osofisan refers to as the “Magicboon plays”; another being Esu and the Vagabond Minstrels. It was premiered at the Arts Theatre, University of Ibadan in March 1979.
Set in a market square, which is a symbolic location in Yoruba worldview, Osofisan wrote the play to contribute to the debate on public execution of armed robbers in Nigeria. It examines the moral and legal definitions of ‘robbery’ in the wider sense, and the implications of the Armed Robbery and Firearms Decree 47 of 1970 on the public psyche, contended Adeyemi, associate professor of theatre at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom.
He continues, “The play starts with a storyteller singing a traditional song that accompanies the tortoise story… Instead of tortoise, his song is about four robbers whose leader has been executed and whom he is planning to assist. The storyteller serves as the Narrator of the play, until in an opening, the other actors take the narrative authority away from him. They determine the course of the play by choosing who they want him to be – a Muslim priest – and then clothe him in appropriate costume, complete with props such as praying mat, beads, and a kettle of water.
“Soon, the priest, Aafa, adopts the cloak of a babalawo, to reveal the many layers of societal influence that Osofisan wants to focus on in the play. The religious significance of his mat and kettle underlines piety, meaning that the Narrator will not only be truthful but will remain impartial throughout the narration.
Four Robbers features a closely knit group of individuals bound together by the shared occupation of armed robbery. It is early morning in the market and the soldiers have just executed the leader of the robbers in the presence of the whole community. The other robbers – Angola, Major, Hasan and Alhaja – ponder a future without their leader, with most of their colleagues killed and the armed robbery decree restricting their livelihood. The fraternity quickly disintegrates with that death and those of the other nine members of the gang, and as Major confirms:
The robbers decide to use the magic formula to rob market women of their goods. They say a few words of incantation, start singing and the women all dance away, leaving their goods, which the robbers promptly appropriate. This causes an economic disaster that closes the market for two weeks. It also creates a dilemma for the robbers of how to dispose of the goods. The next time, they decide to wait until the end of the market day and rob the women of money. The women, who have sought the protection of the soldiers, fall under the spell of the magic again. As Major tries to double-cross the other robbers, the soldiers, who danced away with the women, come back. In the shootout, the soldiers wound Major before arresting him; while the other robbers escape. Osofisan exposes the corruption in the society in the way the soldiers deal with the situation. They recover the stolen money but keep it for themselves, with the Sergeant taking charge of the distribution.”
