Dear Kaffy draws full houses and strong audience response, prompting calls for a recurring showcase of Nigerian theatre in the UK
BAP Productions is considering making London a regular destination for its Nigerian theatre productions after Dear Kaffy: Diary of a Single Woman in Lagos closed to strong audience acclaim following a three-day run at the Shaw Theatre in Euston Road.
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The production, which ran from August 7 to 9, attracted full houses across its performances, with audiences responding enthusiastically to its humour, performances and distinctly Nigerian storytelling.
The reception has now prompted calls from audience members and theatre observers for BAP Productions to return to London every summer with a new production, potentially creating an annual theatre season showcasing Nigerian stories and talent.
Directed by Bolanle Austen-Peters, Dear Kaffy brought the energy and social observations of contemporary Nigerian theatre to a London audience that included members of the Nigerian diaspora as well as the wider British theatre community.
Laughter, applause and standing ovations reportedly characterised the performances, while critics and theatre enthusiasts praised the production for presenting a Nigerian narrative in a manner that remained accessible to audiences unfamiliar with the country’s theatrical traditions.
Austen-Peters said the response had demonstrated the appetite for African stories beyond the continent.
“We are deeply grateful to everyone who came out to see Dear Kaffy. The response has been extraordinary,” she said.
“To have a full house at every performance and to hear audiences asking us to return every summer is incredibly encouraging.”
For BAP Productions, the response represents more than the success of a single production. It offers a potentially significant opportunity to establish a sustained presence for Nigerian theatre within London’s diverse performing arts landscape.
Austen-Peters said the audience reaction reinforced the company’s belief that African stories could find a strong home on the international stage.
“It tells us that African stories have a home on the global stage, and we are excited about what this could mean for the future,” she added.
The proposed annual season would also give Nigerian performers, writers, directors and production professionals an additional platform for reaching international audiences while strengthening cultural links between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
The success of the London engagement comes amid growing international interest in African creative productions, with Nigerian film, music and theatre increasingly reaching audiences beyond the country’s traditional cultural markets.
BAP Productions said the London response had encouraged the company to explore making the city a regular stop on its international theatre calendar.
The production was supported by Access Bank UK, with Bank of America, the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce, Bank of Industry, Channels TV, WimBiz, Lagos Mums, Beat FM, Molly Africa, Africa Movie Channel, Heavy Wind Media, the University of Westminster and Bridge Clinic among its partners.
Their support helped facilitate the staging of the production in London and contributed to its international reach.
For audiences who called for the company to return, however, the most significant outcome may be the prospect of seeing more Nigerian productions on a London stage.
The response to Dear Kaffy has provided a powerful indication that Nigerian theatre can travel beyond its home market without losing the cultural identity that gives its stories their distinctive appeal.
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If the proposed annual season materialises, the August production could ultimately mark the beginning of a much broader relationship between BAP Productions and London’s theatre-going public.
Victory Emmanuel is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
