What We Do
We perform and/or conduct workshops in traditional African Theatre, incorporating the art of oral storytelling, drama, music, mime and dance. All performances are interactive and the stories are dramatised using the above art forms, and sometimes, masquerade.
Storytelling performances are specifically designed for each individual occasion and age group. Workshops can follow the performances and can concentrate on all or any of the art forms.
We also offer other specialised services.
PERFORMANCES (45 to 60 minutes)
Traditional African Storytelling (Under 5's and above) comprises dramatised fables, myths and legends about the exploits of various trickster animals of Africa.
Traditional African Creation Myths (Age 7 and above) includes a variety of participatory Creation Myths from different parts of Africa
Christmas and New Year Celebrations (All Ages) is Nativity stories performed in an exciting African style and popular Christmas carols sung in different African languages.
IROKO Masquerade and Dance (Under 1's - Over 99's!) is a dramatic, exhilarating and colourful performances for all occasions such as family outings, festivals and corporate functions.
WORKSHOPS (45 to 60 minutes)
IROKO workshops can cover all the art forms or a selection of them. The workshops can run simultaneously if convenient.
Storytelling/Drama Workshop focuses on introducing participants to elements and techniques of traditional African storytelling.
Traditional African Music Workshop introduces participants to various styles of traditional African music, using a range of traditional musical instruments.
African Dance Workshop introduces different types of African dance and their historical and cultural backgrounds.
Introduction To African Theatre and Drama (Age 7 and above) introduces participants to elements of African theatre and uses African theatre methods to explore scripts or plays from other cultures or to devise work on any subject of particular interest to participants.
OTHER SERVICES
IROKO Community Links Project is a yearly out-reach educational project to introduce children and young people (especially those living in rural areas) to African theatre, art and culture. It consists of intensive workshops or residencies that can culminate in a final performance by participants.
Various funding bodies fund the Community Links Project and if your organisation or school is interested in it, please send to us a letter of interest stating how the project might benefit your organisation or school.
INSET for Teachers introduces aspects of our work that can be used to enhance the self-esteem, self-confidence and creative imagination of pupils or to help develop the language and communication skills of pupils whose first language is not English.
It also enhances the training of drama, dance and music tutors in minority arts and inspires and equips them with new ideas and outlook on their work.
Special Needs (special schools, hospitals, etc.) uses the arts to tackle prejudices that disability often engenders and offers opportunities to the disabled to participate and express themselves in mainstream activities that would normally not be accessible to them.
Rehabilitation (Young Offenders' Institutes, Prisons, etc) uses any or a combination of the art forms to help enhance the education and rehabilitation of vulnerable young people.
Stress Busting - Drumming Out Stress or Dance Away Your Stress uses music or gentle movement/dance to help combat stress. A unique way to revitalise and energise both the body and the mind and will leave participants uplifted, inspired and motivated.
Family Fun Day (Under 5's, Parents, Guardians and Nursery Nurses) uses music, rhythm and rhyme, songs, chants and games to enhance the interaction between
children and adults and help develop an understanding that children's experiments
with sounds are part of their early years' music-making experience that can be
integrated into their overall education.
SPECIAL PROJECTS
IROKO is available for commissioning on special projects. The company can conceive, write and perform a dramatic piece (using African theatre methods) on any mutually acceptable theme of specific interest.
Visual and Audio Samples