On June 28, 2019, the University of Nairobi will host its first Theatre Festival at the Chandaria Centre for Performing Arts.
This was announced by the University Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Peter Mbithi when he hosted a luncheon celebrating the Drama Festivals 2019 winners and the 2019 Bata Young Designers Challenge participants on Monday, May 6, 2019.
“We are going to introduce a programme that will bring performing arts closer to the University of Nairobi community,” said Prof. Mbithi. “The Theatre Festival will be a running series by this University where families in Nairobi will come for entertainment through good theatre.”
The Vice-chancellor congratulated the students who represented the university in the competitions.
The students that participated in the Drama Festivals were from the University of Nairobi Travelling Theatre (UNTT) and the School of Law Drama Club while the Bata Young Designers Challenge participants were from the School of The Arts and Design in the College of Architecture and Engineering.
The School of Law Drama Club received the top prize in the Winning Play 2019 category, number two in the ‘Most Original Play’ and number three in the ‘Best Item on Youth Health Responsible Behaviour’ category. First-year School of Law student Brian Silas Owiti was named the ‘Best Actor’ at the 2019 Drama Festivals. The other awards scooped by the Drama Club include ‘Best Play in English,’ ‘Best Scripted Play, ’Best Costume and Décor, ’Best Director Award’ and ‘Best Production.’
UNTT was named the theatre champions at the drama festivals. The troupe also won the spoken word and came second in the mime category. Indeed, as reported in a local newspaper, the University of Nairobi caused upset at national drama fete.
In addition, Cyprian Kavita Kiswili, a design graduate from the School of The Arts and Design, who was crowned the winner in the 2019 Bata Young Designers Challenge also presented his trophy to the Vice-Chancellor. He was among the finalists competing at this year’s Bata Fashion Weekend at the Prague, Czech Republic. UoN’s Anita Wambui Wairimu, a third-year interior design student, was also a finalist at the highly competitive challenge. Six UoN students from the School of The Arts and Design participated in the 2019 Bata Young Designers Challenge in Kenya. ‘Walk the Savanna’ is the theme the students worked with on their designs. The challenge was part of Bata’s 125 years celebrations
