Meet Mourad Sadat - The Nubian King of Theatre

Born 31^st May 1985 in Nairobi Mourad is a rare breed of stellar actors that have ever graced the Phoenix Players stage.

He started acting at the age of 9 in Class three at Thornden Primary where as a boy scout he performed skits to his fellows during camps.

“It was at Eastleigh high where my artistic juices burst with a flame where I was a member of the drama club and subsequently involved in Drama festivals” Says the exceptionally tongued Sadat. From there he got trained at the performance training workshop hosted by the renowned Keith Pearson.

He has most recently finished his law degree at Makerere University majoring in corporate affairs and is set to graduate soon and later do his post graduate diploma.

Having been a timid and self inundated kid, acting is the only other form of art that truly lights up Mourad’s world. “Through acting my different characters get exposed, I could adopt and become anything I want to be and that boosts my confidence.” He says

He says that at first people misconceive him a snob but what really makes him an exceptional actor is his passion, dedication and diligence in every performance. “I go an extra mile in every script I take and I feel I haven’t done that, I would rather not do it at all.”

He has featured in countless theatrical performances at Phoenix, Alliance,KNT and Radio theatre. His notable TV appearances include Nairobi Law, Shuga Sn. II, he has also featured in the abroad movies Africa Monamoir and Taking the Flack and is currently shooting Mali.

His best moment on set is when his hard work pays off and the director declares a shot perfect in the first take.

He however asserts that the hardest thing he has to do on stage is to act drunk! And that the worst moment he ever had, was clumsily banging his head on the door after an outburst of his energy.

“Although the audience laughed as it seemed to be part of the plot it was my most embarrassing moment”   

His unique qualities as an actor he says are his colour, exuberant stage presence and ability to completely envelope and internalize a script.

Mourad who features in the farce Who’s Who showing at Phoenix Players says that his favourite actor of all time is Fareed Khimani “whose level of professionalism and character on set would lift up anyone.”

In the near future he sees himself practicing law, voicing the voiceless and producing film.

He adds that “if I had the power to change something in the Kenyan Industry, I would change the stereotype that Kenyan actors are lazy and are in the profession because of lack of an alternative”

##### END####### Em Kinyanjui      

The One Show You Shouldn’t Miss

It is official that women are tired the cheating and hurting ways of men.

The Play Three fold cord by Scott Marshall could not possibly have come at a better time.

 The beautifully crafted masterpiece looks at the lives of three women who are caught in the web of Marcus who is well respected and senior lawyer in criminal and high profile cases.

What really stands out about this intriguing drama is how the three different women perceive Marcus and the disparities in each of their characters.

Victoria his wife is an accomplished actress from a wealthy background. She is self indulgent, wary and we are almost tempted to think she is unaware of Marcus’ indiscretions. But we find out there is more than meets the eye about Victoria.

Millicent on the hand losses her husband  - Marcus’ best friend.  She is taken in by the allure of passion and chemistry that had been missing in her marriage.  Of the three she is rather naive, and takes into Marcus’ every whim, believing that they are madly in love and were meant to be by the good heavens. She is convinced that Marcus is with her because his self obsessed wife is not catering to his needs.

Dexie is a commercial sex worker who falls for the money and promise of a good life that Marcus is all too willing to provide. But she breaks the first rule she was taught about the streets and falls in love with the man. His extravagance, craziness and the ability to let loose and live life like there is no tomorrow. She bears him a son and the happenings thereafter are better watched on stage than told.

This is a Show for every Man and Woman out there. It will give everyone a chance to reflect on our own lives and our own little “things” on the side.

In my mind, Scott Marshall wrote this play to simply tell us that everything we do in life, every move we make and every social encounter we come across; they all have an impact on other people and the world at large.

Three Fold Cord Opens On Friday July 6^th to July 21^st at the Phoenix theatre. This is one show you don’t want to miss.

###############END######## Em Kinyanjui

MEET THE VISITING HOUR CAST

SHIVISKE SHIVISI

Born December 1990, everything about this Phoenix Diva from her name to her career as a powerful actress stands out. The Former which she explains was formed by her parent from his own name Shivisi.

Shiviske a Film student in UON started acting in high school at Bishop Gatimu Ngandu high where she was cast as the main character – A rich, mean, sophisticated woman that harasses her servants.

Professionally her career dawned in 2009 at the August 7^th Memorial Park in the musical ‘the whistle blower’ and her first assignment at the phoenix players was in ‘the house of Bernada Alba ’ directed by Millicent Ogutu.

She passionately explains that what makes her a great and unique actor is in the fact that she personifies her characters and acts them out from her heart as original as possible.

Her best moment on stage was in the show “Why not stay for breakfast” where she accidentally carried her mobile phone on stage and it rang. “The best part is that I made up a line out of the phone ring and the audience did not only laugh but it also made sense in relation with the script.” She said. 

Her hardest moment on stage was to learn to walk like a pregnant woman and maintain it.

 While taking up the role in Visiting Hour she feared being branded as the ‘pregnant woman of phoenix’ as this was her second time playing the part.

In visiting hour her hardest challenge was to talk “slowly and use Kenyan broken English” which often got her in trouble with the director for talking faster than she could think.   

Her best moment is when she plays Sandra who is a bit blonde and annoying, and when Janet enters on stage playing the irritating old woman. She says it is quite a task for her to avoid laughing.

She withholds her future ambitions and prefers to live in the moment, doing her very best at everything she does.

Catch the hilarious stunts Shiviske pulls in Visiting Hour before the curtains fall this week.

#############END########### Em Kinyanjui

One More Reason Why You Shouldn't Miss This Final Week of Visiting Hour.. Meet Kenga Sankei

The Stage That Is a Work of Art

 

 In the shadow of any artistic piece of work there lies the sweat and energy of an artist.

 

The Phoenix Theater stage can be described as the canvas of an artist as the work that goes in it to create a masterpiece for every show is exemplary.

The small and intimate theatre has hosted over 460 shows since its inception and every show is a telling example of how much effort has been put into creating the work of art.

  The process begins by conceptualisation where a draft is drawn of what the stage should look like depending on the requirements of the show to be staged.

Materials are acquired for construction and the gruesome process that takes a week is undertaken complete with paint, furniture and all the auxiliaries that would make the show a success are carefully put in place.

As you enjoy the show we hope that you fall in love with the time and energy that we put into our sets.

All in an Effort to give you the best Theater Experience imaginable.

*Set Furnished by ODDS and Ends Kenya*

 ########END##############     Em Kinyanjui








                                              

 

Lui Nzomo's Smoke

Now Showing Visiting Hour (Final Week)

Up Next... The Three Fold Chord

Meet the Cast: Sankei Ole Kenga

Born December 13^th in Narok the soft spoken Kenga who would easily pass off as a Maasai warrior but in essence is a versatile and highly talented actor based in Nairobi.

Kenga who heads commercial business at Logics Africa started acting at a tender age playing the role of a father in a church play in Narok.

His Eleven years of acting experience has been spent perfecting his craft at various theatre establishments in Kenya like Mbalamwezi, Friends ensemble, better pill, planets and Phoenix theatre.

 He says that “Other than my girlfriend, Acting is the only thing that truly makes my day”.

When asked why he thinks he is a good actor he corrects the statement and asserts that what makes him a Great actor is not the fact that his skills are innate but that for him “it’s not just the craft, but the passion and drive”

Kenga elucidates that what most people don’t know about him is that he is actually an introvert and among other things can sing, MC and “sell tea to a tea farmer”

His favourite actors of all time are Johnny Depp and Denzel Washington but ironically he says that the hardest thing he encounters on set is to kiss on stage.

Kenga a player at the Phoenix theatre explains that it is the best repertory theatre in Africa  for its high standard for quality, creative consistency and an excellent creative director. 

In Visiting Hour his toughest moment is to maintain the character of Arthur in Magic who is uncouth and hilarious albeit saying very few lines. His best moment in the play is in the end when he gets to say the uproarious story of ‘just’ the head sitting on a hospital bed.  *Watch Video Link on Our FB page*

When questioned on the progress of the acting industry in Kenya, he expounds that Kenya has great talent but little appreciation for the same.

Watch out for this rising star as he looks forward to make his Hollywood debut next year and watch him live at the phoenix theatre in Visiting Hour.

########END############# By Em Kinyanjui.