DELE ODULE PLANS BIG FOR 40 YEARS ON STAGE .

Veteran actor, Dele Odule, will be celebrating his 40 years of active performance on stage in the weeks to come, in other to make the celebration a memorable one , he is set to invest N10 million in the production of a stage play titled ‘Oju Kelekun’ which literarily means Farewell to Reproach.

The 56-year-old actor disclosed this recently at  a media chat with newsmen  in Abeokuta on the  activities being organized
to commemorate his 40 years on stage.

He also revealed  that over 100 cast and crew would spend at least 21 days rehearsing towards the stage performance, which is expected to hit the stage for its first command performance on June 12 in Abeokuta.

Mr. Odule, who is also the President of Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Producers’ Association of Nigeria, further stated  that the entire cast and crew are expected to assemble at Westgate Hotel in Ado-Ekiti from April 23.

In his worlds “I will also like to appeal for sponsorship because the play will be staged in Kwara State as well as all the South-West States. The play Oju kelekun, a social satire written by the talented thespian . will be directed by former Director of the Abuja carnival, Professor Bakare Ojo, a foremost theatre practitioner and the first Professor of dance in Nigeria.

Speaking on why he is passionate about boosting stage performances in Nigeria, Mr. Odule said he was bothered by the fact that stage performances was gradually going into extinction following the demise of the founding fathers of Nigerian theatre such as Hubert Ogunde, Duro Ladipo, Akin Ogungbe, Kola Oogunmola and Oyin Adejobi.  The actor who is best known for his role in the 1993 hit movie titled Ti Oluwa Nile also disclosed that he has assembled a team of seasoned artists from the academia and travelling theatre to make the venture a reality.

"The idea is to bring back the lost memories. Our youth can then have an opportunity to choose a career in the arts through this form of motivation.” He submitted.
Photo:Dele Odule/credit:google.com