“ 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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