Friday 27 February 2015

5 Things I Wish Someone Told me When I Was First Selected Into a Theatrical Official Post

It's on a Friday evening. Am seated at my table chatting with friends on Whatsapp. I then receive tidings of the newly elected St Paul's Theatre officials. I am an old dog now-- one year after I left campus and most specifically after I ceased being part of SPT. I look at the names of the officials and all look familiar though it is a long time since I visited the team. Well, if you really need to know, I feel guilty that I just vamoosed from the team and rarely pay them courtesy calls.

“ I will go there when I get freer. I will go when things start looking up. I will go...,” are the thoughts that criss-cross my mind any time I get the feeling of visiting my theatrical alma mater's meetings. Anyway, that is not what am writing about now. I want to touch on what I first felt when I was elected into the team as a leader.


I was first elected as the St Paul's Theatre costume director in 2013. By then, I was a second year going to third year. I practically did nothing. Yes, nothing. A whole year in office but I had nothing to show for it after it was over. Nobody impeached me( I wonder why they didn't). Surprisingly, the thespians again elected me as the Cast director in 2014. I wonder why they did it (How the hell do you elect someone who has a proven track record of non-performance, how?) 


Anyway, in 2014, there were threats of impeaching guys from office and because I am the cowardly type, I decided to grow up and do my roles. In the same year, I happened to be part of those who would convene in St Maria Gorretti Hall discussing the future of CSC. Well, the likes of Munywoki, Mila, Mumo, Emucheru, Shiku Kamau would really debate the future of the group while I and like-minded individuals pretended to be contemplating over the future of the group while in actual fact we were waiting for Kemboi to get tea for the CSC 'leaders'. Man, I loved that tea. Plus the cakes. They were delectable. Once Kemboi served tea, we would join the debate and even raise solid arguments. Because of time, Munywoki ( I loved his spectacles) would adjourn the meeting and say the arguments that were raised by 'akina Jammoh' would be put to hold and incorporated into the next meeting's agenda. So you now see why I decide to grow up as a leader in 2014?


All in all, I enjoyed serving the team in my last academic year at the University. But how I wish someone whispered a few wise points before I held the mantle. Because I cannot go back in time, all I have to do now is send some advice to the newly elected SPT officials. 

  1. Contribute, contribute and contribute
When you are chosen as a theatre leader, forget how good you are in scriptwriting, acting or directing. Forget it! ( I am sorry if I burst your bubble). Well, the truth is that theatre leadership relies less on the technical details you know but how good you can harness them for the good of the team.

When you are elected as the Creative Director for example, the position is not for you to stun others with how well you can write scripts, act or direct. No, none of the thespians chose you because they want you to amaze them with your skills. No, none ( Hehehe, funny?) The truth is that they want you to tap their skills and use it for the common good of the team.

The best that they can ask from you is that you contribute the little that you have ( you thought you had much to contribute? Nope) which is then pooled together with what others have. Contribution is the key.

  1. Every positive thing no matter how small is big
At times, theatrical works can be boring especially when the team that you are working with seems to be making sluggish progress. I say this because I have ever worked as a theatre director and getting actors to do exactly as you please can be one of the most daunting tasks. It tests on your patience and resilience. At times, you feel as though you can wind up the whole production thing and tell them,
“ Well, it was a pleasure working with you guys but you are dunderheads. You simply cannot get what I want. Go home!”

However, with a resilient spirit, you instead tell them,

“ Great... great.. that was beautiful.. you guys are amazing...can you try acting as an angel again Serengeti...yeeeeess... something like that.” 
Deep down in your mind though, you know that Serengeti is acting like a drunk man but you have to encourage him. With time and practice, Serengeti's alcohol will go down and he will start acting like the angel you want him to be. Well, he may not become the angel you wanted him to be because Serengeti is still Serengeti but he will be something close to an angel. 

3. If it haunts you, do it 

Your term in office has just started. You may feel that one year is such a long time and there will always be enough time to suggest a great idea to the rest of the officials. Maybe, you have this idea of having the team acting during weddings alongside the dancers and the choir. However, you keep mum on the idea till the time is ripe.

Well, time will never be ripe. Or have you ever seen ripe time? How does it look like? Does it taste like a mango or orange? Time my friend, will never be ripe. If it haunts you, do it or say it. Tell it to the rest of the officials. They may mull over it or just ignore it. However, you will not feel guilty because you at least said it. You get me?

4. Take control of things

An official has to be in-charge. Whether things are running haywire or smoothly, it is good to stand tall amid the crowds and say, [Insert a deep voice] “ I. Am In. Control.” That assures the multitude. It could be that the theatrical ship is sinking but when you say those words, people tend to respect you more. They see you as an accountable figure who seems to have all the answers. Though they are going to drown in the sea, they are going to drown safely ( I doubt that!)

5. Be there; presence is key

Even if you are the introverted type that rarely talks, as an official, you have to be always there; whether you talk or keep mum. People like it when they see their figure of authority around them. They feel secure that things are going on right though they might not be. Being there for the group also shows that you are concerned and committed. If there is one thing that people get irked with, it is having an official who assumes a non-chalant attitude (read Jammoh, 2013 Costume director).


Ps: Congrats to Ann Nduta, Reagan Otieno, Jack Osoro, Regina Muthoni, and Ndirangu Omondi; take the theatrical flag to the next level.