Filmmaker and Executive Director of Terra Kulture, Bolanle Austen-Peters, has officially announced the inaugural Lagos International Theatre Festival, scheduled to take place from November 14 to 17, 2024.
The announcement was made during a press conference held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at the Governor’s House in Marina, Lagos.
The festival promises to bring together performers from around the world for an exciting celebration of theatrical excellence. 25 stage plays, including three International showpieces, will headline the Lagos International Theatre Festival.
Events will be hosted across four prominent venues in Lagos: the University of Lagos, Terra Kulture, Muson Centre’s Agip Hall, and Glover Hall.
Initially hesitant about organising the festival, Austen-Peters shared why she had a change of heart, stating, “I didn’t want to do this festival, but I recognised that as a front-liner with Terra Kulture, 22 years later, creating jobs, creating opportunities with an academy that has trained over 24,000 young people today, I had no choice but to do it. We will make this the best theatre location in West Africa, in Africa, and the world.”
The festival is supported by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who emphasised his administration’s commitment to the initiative.
“Our hope is to use this brilliant initiative to support theatre practitioners and to encourage listing art activities ahead so that visitors to our state can have an idea of what each month offers for them,” he said.