Nakuru artists hopeful as Players' theatre gets new management
Dowe Music Arts performing at Nakuru players' theatre on March 11, 2023.
Nakuru artistes have expressed optimism in the newly elected management team at the Nakuru Players Theatre.
The management team comprises Eric Wanyama (Chairman), Barbushe Maina (Vice Chairman), Simon Thuo (Treasurer), Nash Nderitu (Secretary) and Mercy Lengirasi (Vice Secretary).
Speaking to Mtaa Wangu, the artists led by Ramadhan Tsuma noted that the artists in Nakuru have been facing numerous challenges among them lack of finances to help nurture their talents and be recognized even nationally.
Tsuma who wears several caps from song writer, actor, to poet is however quick to note that having interacted with the new Chairman and the entire new leadership, the team is up to the task.
“The only way to ensure the success of the Theatre is through having a good leadership in place and the team that was elected on Saturday is the best,” says Tsuma.
On her part, Fiona Rose- a poet who has been practicing at the Nakuru Players Theatre lauds the new leadership terming them a people committed towards nurturing talents.
According to Fiona, there is a need for new ideas as far as art in Nakuru is concerned, urging the team to work closely with all artists in Nakuru.
The duo called on fellow artistes to support the new leadership team to deliver on their mandate for the better art industry in Nakuru.
The team will now take over management and will spearhead matters of the premise up to 2026.
Under the hashtags #TembeaNakuruPlayersTheatre, #SupportWhenAlive, and #VisitTheatre, the team looks forward to make the theatre a darling for Nakuru artistes.
The iconic Nakuru Players Theatre was revived in 2017 through allocation of Sh15 million towards its renovation and facelift.
This was funded by the county government of Nakuru.
The theatre has history from colonial times when it was under the patronage of nobles such as Lord Delamere and Lord Egerton.
In the past, the facility has faced sharp criticism from artists in Nakuru who accused the leadership of bias and inability to champion the needs of the artists.
This has forced the theatre to intentionally open its doors to local artists through concerts that enable the uprising stars to perform and network with others.
A good example is the Make Music day event that was held at the theatre last week.
The current facility's Treasurer Simon Thuo says the team is up to the task.
He says time is now for the facility to play the intended role in nurturing talents of various creatives across the County.