CAROLINE ODONGO - The Coach.

Who is she? If you don't know her yet then don't feel bad about it. The Coach steers every actor into theatre nobility. She's one of the best theatre directors in Kenya today who started her career in theatre & film after she watched her first play at Phoenix theatre years and years ago (as she puts it). She is a long time actor and now a current theatre director. She is currently directing the play 'If I were you' here at Phoenix Players which is set to start on 24th August-8th September. She is working here way into film and says she can't abandon the stage. A loving wife and a mother of three ; two girls and a boy.

Theatre is what defines her existence. She loves what she does and what makes her love it is how she sees artists develop. "I started off as a shy young lady who could hardly stand infront of people.That was the start. When I saw my first play here at Phoenix I could feel a pull.It was like the stage was calling me,"she says. That's how she managed to confront her fears and take to the stage. "Theatre develops people more than other disciples.Well,don't object.That's my view,"she adds.

She is good working with people,has a strong visual sense,is patient and loves helping other thespians grow. "I love teaching,giving and sharing ideas as well as listening." She says. At times people working with her may have a hard time beacuse she is perceived to be extremely serious and at times harsh. "I don't know why they say am harsh but I think it's beacuse I love working under limits,making use of the little time we have here on earth and executing everthing to perfection." Thats coach,as she is referred to by the many who know her.Who wouldn't want a serious and dedicated directed anyway.

Young people who shed off their shyness and walk into the room of confidence inspire her,a lot. Watching young and pure talents grow to be great actors adds a smile to her her face. It gives her the a spirit of moving forward.The late James Falkland was her mentor. She describes him as a man who helped her from her infant theatre days to a fullgrown thespian.

"A lot has to be done." She says,looking at a me with a rather determined look.Carol believes theatre in Kenya needs professionalism,more theatre space for the artist which acceptable and accessible is needed. She wants to see more Kenyan productions,more training for theatre directors,stage manager,set crafters/designers,costume designers and other theatre professionals. She wants other genres of art to be incorporated into theatre i.e. dance, music and mimes only to name a few. The idea of actor cramming of lines and just acting on stage is something she doesn't like at all. She wants actors to uphold dicipline and seriousness. Acting to her is a job, as well as other theatre jobs. She urges all artists to stop taking theatre as a hobby no wonder other people in other professions never take artists as serious people. "Artists should be serious so that other people take them serious." Carol says.

She loves reading (mostly scripts),cooking,writing scripts and is currently working in Lies that Bind as a script editor. Meet Coach,hear what she has to say and tell her your story too. I couldn't write everything about her but she has a mission. Why not a dream?Why only a mission. I ask. "My goals are already set.Furthermore dreams are for people who are asleep.I'm wide awake and got work to do!" And we laugh.

                                            
                                                                                  ###Mulwa Mutinda#####

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)

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