Veteran artist returns to town with laughter

Nairobi theatre-goers are in for a treat this weekend when the Festival of Creative Arts returned to the Kenya National Theatre (KNT) on Friday.

Producer Eliud Abuto has assembled a strong cast who will release a brand new comedy – The Kings of Conmen.

The “treat” is not simply the storyline, which reflects many of the challenges people face in life – everything from love, family, relationships, corruption, nepotism and the gross inequality between the super-rich and the rest.

Abuto has  been a household name in local theatre circles for more than two decades as a co-founder of Mbalamwezi Players in the early 1980s. With others he went ahead to form the Festival of Creative Arts, which has been showing this comedy at the KNT. Today’s show is from 3 pm and 6 pm.

Tickets are available at the Alliance Francaise, Assanands Music Store, 8 to 8 shopping mall, next to Jazz Bar and at the Kenya National Theatre.

Abuto said he has talked with the management of the Kenya Cultural Centre about parking fee and they have agreed to charge Sh100 while the shows are on. This was after theatre lovers complained of being charged as much as Sh400 recently when Fanaka Arts Production first performed at the theatre.

Performing in the modernised theatre is like a dream come true for many artists. This is because the theatre now has a state-of-the-art equipment, including a complex sound and lighting system which makes the make believe of theatre more realistic. The sitting area for the audience has also been made more comfortable, and one can now soak in the occurrences on stage with ultimate comfort. The sitting capacity, previously at 450, has been reduced to 360 with bigger and more comfortable seats.

The basement, which had been so run down that some homeless artistes once used to sleep there, has been renovated to give room to dance studious and rehearsal rooms. In all, the KNT is a good place to spend hours with good company