THE
BEAUTY OF AN AUDITION IS NOT ONLY FOR YOU TO GET A ROLE BUT ALSO FOR FUTURE
REFERENCES. SAYS ONE OF THE KALAKUTA QUEENS
INTERVIEW
WITH MISS OLADOTUN OLA GBADEBO
E.P:
Briefly introduce yourself?
Ans:
My name is Oladotun Ola Gbadebo. A graduate of Lagos State University, I
studied, English but right from time I have always been involved in theatre
since my 100 level days, so far am a production manager, stage manager, actor,
dancer and a bathroom singer.
E.P:
(surprised!) You a bathroom singer?
Ans:
Yes a bathroom singer because I sing to myself in the bathroom
E.P:
I thought it was on a commercial level?
Ans:
No (laughs) I just love to sing in the bathroom, so far I have taken part in
“Death and The Kings Horseman” also the “Five Maids of Fadaka” the mad king of
ijodiya, “Midnight Hotel, “The Oriki of a
Grass hopper” directed by Toyin Oshinaike. The one for Lagos Book and
Arts Festival 2017 (LABAF). “The man who walk away” a drama by Niyi Oundare,
currently am in FELA AND THE KALAKUTA QUEENS.
I
have also stage manager musicals like Midnight Hotel, magic of musicals i have feature
in a number of plays those are just the little I can remember, I am also a voice
over artist, I feature in MTV suga season 3, in BBC radio play “Election
Propaganda”. I was also in ALERO CALL CENTRE a radio drama series on Naija Fm.
I was in a short film “THE PATRIOTS” I also featured in scene one film ”indoor
street”.
E.P:
What an impressive list, what keeps you going in the profession?
Ans:
Honestly, the passion although it may sound somehow but it is the truth even in
the face of criticism from family, friends, financial incapacity, together is enough
to so cripple any one, basically for me it is the passion.
E.P:
How did you get the role of one of the Kalakuta Queens?
Ans:
well to be honest I have been auditioning for roles with Terra Kulture, a
couple of times but due to one thing or the other I ended up not getting the
roles
Another
thing is that theatre is like an extended family so you need people to get a
job because once you know people and once there is an opening comes up they can
give you a call that is how I got a role in Fela and the Kalakuta Queens.
A
friend I had audition with gave me a call, they have been rehearsing and
discovered they needed more girls and I had a quick audition.
E.P:
Fela and the Kalakuta Queen was directed by Bolanle Austen Peters?
Ans:
Yes you know this is the beauty of audition it is not only for you to get a
role but for future reference its also a veritable avenue to make connection
and network. Some would give you a call maybe not the film you audition for, so
audition services several purpose.
E.P:
The resurgence in stage production by people like you and in the face of lack
of governmental support.
Ans:
(cuts in) I always believe that if you wait for somebody to do something for
you, you may wait forever so you just have to do it yourself also another
reason for the raise in stage production at the D’ Park Theatre here is that we
as artist are the mirror of the society so we can’t sit and be waiting for the
government we have to do something for ourselves from the little that we have
it is from the little that we move to a bigger one like they say a little drop
of sand make a desert.
The
more people hear about you and the consistency in your participation can expect
of the profession.
E.P:
Are you part of the D’ Park Theatre?
Ans:
yes I am in the D’ Park Theatre with Oxygen the concept, one six productions
and mad man production three component
theatre put together D’ Park Theatre. It is a collection of artist with the
same vision we are not a troupe
E.P:
Taking theatre with passion as a your profession , does it pay your bills.
Ans:
well just like you know that been an actor you can’t just stick to one thing
solely you have to join it with others things for survival purpose, some of our
actors are producers it’s called multi-tasking if you can do two or more things
but it is not where it is supposed to be. So some of us has other things we do
apart from theatre like myself am also a social media manager, I manage our clients
social media
E.P:
Do you have time for rehearsals
Ans:
it hasn’t been easy but I can tell you that I am one of the lucky few to found
a job that is elastic enough- once I close from work then I head to rehearsal.
