Courtesy: Nairobi Performing Arts Studio (NPAS), during a performance of Sarafina, earlier this year

The performing students from the Nairobi Performing Arts Studio were coached for weeks by professional actress Davina Leonard.
Last Monday evening, the 10th of December, the stage at Ukumbi Mdogo, Kenya National Theatre got set for young and vibrant performers to strut on, enthralling the audience that filled the room. Performances flew on the wings of themes of love, youths and choices, marriage, and leadership among other themes.
The performers, hatched by Nairobi Performing Arts Studio (NPAS) under the coaching of professional actress Davina Leonard (A Man Like You, Every Brilliant Thing) performed 20 different pieces stretching from narratives, plays, songs, and monologues.
As the evening whipped up to a climax, Joshua Naine's masterful open mic saw him strum at his guitar, his sonorous voice melding with the tune to birth a heart-seizing love song that sent ladies in the room into an excited uproar.
Two songs extracted from the film Sarafina hiked the energy that hovered in the theatre. Zibuyile which featured high steps and unmatched agility in twisty dances by the theatre production class, and Lord's Prayer which closed the evening's performances.
Acts that stood out and left the audience fighting to catch breaths included an intense 'Black December' by Enos Bwibo and Cindy Ajumbo, a short play following a girl entrapped in a marriage she wouldn't nod to if it wasn't for an accidental pregnancy. She finds herself shackled to an abusive, unfaithful man who more than often smolders a cigarette, blowing smoke out his mouth and nostrils.
'Crippled Motherland', a solo performance by Kimani Kinuthia embossed in hearts the precarious, decadent state of our motherland, marred with corruption, injustices, and poor leadership. Nyawira Alison's 'Church' fiercely unwrapped the hypocrisy and sexual escapades twirling around the church, and Nyawira gave it a touch of an unforgettable humour.
Another humourous and lively performance was 'He Cheated' by George Maina and Esther Wamuhu, exploring love affairs of millennials.
In his closing remarks, director of NPAS, Stuart Nash, said what was featured in the 2018 close of year showcase was only a sneak peak of the students' work in progress. KenyaBuzz caught up with Davina Leonard who revealed that the performed pieces were all written by the students, and the entire preparation took 13 enervating weeks.
In attendance was legendary John Sibi-Okumu, a renowned actor, director, writer, and journalist. In November this year, he teamed up with Davina Leonard at Alliance Francaise and performed Lest We Forget, a night of performance poetry that commemorated 100 years since World War 1 ended.

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