centre stage
Bola Agbaje : Gone Too Far
Award-winning British-Nigerian playwright Bola Agbaje tells Rachelle
Hull she wants to branch out into scriptwriting for Nollywood
T
here weren’t enough black roles; everybody commissions a play, they become the producers and
had to go up for the same characters. I didn’t Dominic Cooke, the artistic director for the Royal
want to be in a crab-in-the-bucket situation, so I Court, was very interested in new ideas.
decided to create my own characters. With public works of art comes criticism. With one
These are the words of British-Nigerian playwright critic stating that Gone Too Far needed ‘more action
Bola Agbaje, a 21st century Alaroye. For many, and less talk’ it becomes clear that not everyone
the change from actress to playwright may seem recognises the strengths of the oral tradition of
daunting, but for Bola it was a natural transition. In storytelling. Conscious of the criticism that have
Yoruba culture the alaroye, or storyteller, has always followed her success, the British-Nigerian beauty
existed and played an important part in recording and is philosophical. ‘Absord the good points and the
relaying the Yoruba experience. Telling stories is in her criticism, then disregard the rest – or you’ll be writing
blood. Bola just had to find a way to do it. for reviewers, instead of your audience,’ she says.
Despite being the new kid on the block, the 26 Not content with filling seats in the UK, Bola
year-old has already begun leaving her mark in the Agbaje’s sights are set on Nigeria; her ambitions are
theatre world. Her prize for winning the Royal Court tied in with her passion for going back to her roots
Young Writers Festival, in 2006, was having her first and the huge potential she sees there.
play Gone Too Far commissioned by the Royal Court Wanting to try her hand at scriptwriting, Bola
Theatre, which premiered in February 2007. The play enthuses about Nollywood, the Nigerian film industry.
was such a success it went on to win a Laurence ‘I want to write some good Nollywood films. There
Olivier Award in theatres – the equivalent of an Oscar. are a lot of young black directors that want to get
Speaking of her award, Bola says: ‘I’m still into Nollywood; they have the skills to take over.
shocked. Gone Too Far exceeded everyone’s Nollywood will beat Hollywood one day – trust me.
expectations. You don’t expect to win an award of Gone Too Far is making a comeback this summer.
that magnitude for your very first play.’ Bola remains excited. ‘I’m not interested in starting at
Gone Too Far explores the cultural and racial the top and then making my way down. I’m not a one-
tensions through a day in the life of two brothers and hit wonder. Usher said it best when he said he wants
the people they meet. The success of the play is a to keep on doing what he does and doing it so well
combination of Bola’s ability to tell a good story and that you won’t forget him. This isn’t the peak for me.’
the visual artistry of director Bijan Shebani, who Bola
speaks highly of. ‘He knew what the play was about
and he had his own creative ideas that he put into it See Gone Too Far at The Royal Court Theatre:
which made it work even better.’ 24th July to 9th August; The Albany: 14th to 16th
For her audience to enjoy the play and relate to August; and Hackney Empire: 19th-23rd August.
the subject matter, it was important that she had
full support from the Royal Court. ‘When a theatre
www.myspace.com/bola_da_writer
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