Tomilola Adeniran, a playwright and artist best known as the viral valedictorian of Pan-Atlantic University, has transformed a routine Lagos bus joke into musical magic in his first original musical play “The Wait” at the Lagos International Theater Festival (LITF) at the Musson Center on November 15 and 16.
The Wait is a humorous and heartfelt 30-minute production set entirely at a Lagos bus stop, where three strangers, each in a hurry for very different reasons, find themselves united by the frustrations, hopes and humor of everyday Nigerian life. Through song, banter and unexpected moments of connection, the play explores resilience, shared humanity and the bonds that form in the most ordinary of places.
Speaking about the upcoming premiere, Tomilola said, “I wrote The Wait as a story about Lagos – its chaos, its laughter and its humanity. Having it come alive at LITF, surrounded by audiences who live these experiences daily, feels like a perfect opening.”
LITF, led by Bolanle Austen-Peters in collaboration with Lagos State, is Nigeria's newest global platform for theater and live performance. The festival, scheduled to premiere in 2024, has gained recognition as a center for storytelling, cultural exchange and artistic innovation with a diverse program of plays, workshops and international collaborations.
In addition to its festival debut, The Wait is also available as a licensable production to theatres, universities and community groups wishing to stage fresh, Nigerian stories with global resonance.
