Saro the Musical is a Nigerian Broadway-style musical showcase produced by Bolanle Austen Peters Production.

Plot

Set in modern day Lagos, Saro portrays the lives of four young men who are determined to become successful despite frustration and perennial lack of opportunities to explore their musical talents and realise their dreams. It tells a story of their journey from the comfort of their multi-ethnic villages seeking a better life in the city of

Lagos Lagos ( ; ), or Lagos City, is a large metropolitan city in southwestern Nigeria. With an upper population estimated above 21 million dwellers, it is the largest city in Nigeria, the most populous urban area on the African continent, and on ...

, which is seen as a land of freedom and opportunities. On getting to Lagos, they find that not all that glitters is gold and ‘blowing’ will take more than just a stroke of luck. Having just arrived in Yaba, they are mugged by agberos and end up in prison alongside their attackers following an altercation. Their dreams of making it appear bleak until the smooth-talking and stylish Don Ceeto swaggers in. Don Ceeto takes the boys home and with some help from Derry Black, he cleans them up and sets them up on the road to stardom. Azeez finds chemistry with Aunty Just Jane who is Don Ceeto’s assistant while Efe is persistently pursued by the Lagos babe, Ronke. Laitan wished he could stay with Rume but she convinced him to go and find success so that he could come back to prove to her father that he was capable of marrying his daughter. Staying behind in the village, with her disapproving father and the threat of being married to the Chief’s son hanging over her is Rume.

Score

The musical score ranged from the 70s High Life and

Afrobeat Afrobeat (also known as Afrofunk) is a West African music genre, fusing influences from Nigerian (such as Yoruba) and Ghanaian (such as highlife) music, with American funk, jazz, and soul influences. With a focus on chanted vocals, complex i ...

to contemporary Afrobeats,

Igbo Igbo may refer to: * Igbo people, an ethnic group of Nigeria * Igbo language, their language * anything related to Igboland, a cultural region in Nigeria See also * Ibo (disambiguation) * Igbo mythology * Igbo music * Igbo art * * Igbo-Ukwu, a t ...

and Yoruba gospel songs to Eyo masquerade songs. The original songs were written by Kehinde Oretimehin Solomon and the musical selections were directed by Ayo Ajayi. The first song is a Yoruba ballad titled ‘Ma gbagbe mi’. This utterly emotional and mind blowing song was written by Kehinde Oretimehin Solomon and has been performed by many classical singers across the world

Cast

Gideon Okeke Gideon Okeke is a Nigerians, Nigerian actor, model, and TV Presenter. He came to the public eye in 2006 when he appeared as a contestant on the first edition of ''Big Brother Nigeria''. In 2008, Gideon joined the cast of the M-Net, M-NET TV series ...

- Azeez, the leader *Patrick Diabuah - Laitan, the thinker *Paul Ifeanyi Alumona - Obaro, the dreamer *Paolo Sisiano - Efe, the charmer *

Bimbo Manuel Bimbo Manuel (born 30 October 1958) is a Nigerian actor. He was nominated for Best actor in a supporting role at the 2013 Nollywood Movies Awards. Career Bimbo hails from Lagos State. After graduating from the University of Port Harcourt with ...

- Don Ceeto * Dolapo Oni * Ade Laoye - Aunty ‘Just Jane’ * Lami Phillips - Derry Black *Oshuwe Tunde-Imoyo - Ronke *Kaline Akinkugbe - Rume *

Kunle Afolayan Kunle Afolayan (born 30 September 1975) is a Nigerians, Nigerian actor, producer, and director. He is credited for elevating the quality of Nollywood movies through larger budgets, shooting on 35mm, releasing in Movie theater, cinemas, and impro ...

- Rume’s father

Production

''SARO the musical'' was produced by Bolanle Austen-Peters Productions (BAP) as its first production. It played at Muson Centre in December 2014 and April 2015. It is also the first Nigerian musical that was performed at London’s West End and

Shaw Theatre The Shaw Theatre is a theatre in Somers Town, in the London Borough of Camden. It is a part of the Pullman London St Pancras hotel, located off Euston Road. The Shaw has 446 seats and two large foyers, four large dressing rooms for up to 60 p ...

. It was sponsored by the arts and culture initiative of the MTN Foundation. The production involved a 100 member crew including both international and local professionals ranging from the directors, producers, musicians, actors/actresses, dancers and choreographers. Ayo Ajayi served as the music director, with Kehinde Oretimehin Solomon as original score writer

References

{{Reflist Musicals set in Nigeria Nigerian musicals 2014 musicals Musicals set in the 2010s