Dis-Loyal Judas joins Easter feast in Lagos

The opera centres on the Biblical story of Judas and Jesus, which offers a powerful window through which to examine the place of choice in destiny. Can destiny be altered? Can it be changed through human action? Through a medley of powerful music, intricate choreography and compelling performances, Dis Loyal Judas will provide answers to these burning questions, but presented as a total theatre package for the season. It is an open air performance on the beautiful lawns of the newly refurbished theatre, which will be transformed to an Easter Village for the production.

According to Adefila, as thespians who are storytellers, ‘we love telling intriguing stories that question the answers we think we already know. ‘One such question is the seeming helplessness of humanity in the determined hands of fate. This Easter, we explore human relationships, the choices we make, and the destinies they shape.’

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“If Judas had chosen differently, would it have altered the fate of the Saviour? If Judas had resisted material temptation—just as Jesus did after fasting for forty days and nights in the Judaean Desert—what might have been the fate of the world? Through a rich juxtaposition of diverse musical genres, we invite you on a musical and dance odyssey. Together, we will uncover layers of meaning while sharing in an experience designed to move, question, and inspire,” he hinted.

One unique element in the production is that the opera introduces a contemporary twist by incorporating modern elements and themes that will resonate with today’s audience. Dis_Loyal Judas transports spectators to a world where ancient history meets contemporary relevance, tradition meets innovation, and the familiar becomes extraordinary.

“Dis_Loyal Judas reimagines the age-old tale of betrayal and redemption in a fresh and captivating way. The opera follows the journey of Judas Iscariot, a figure often vilified in traditional narratives. However, this opera delves deeper into Judas’ character, exploring the complexities of his motives and the internal conflicts he faced as well as his inner turmoil as he grapples with his decisions,” he said. Commenting on how timely the play is to Nigeria’s sociocultural changes, Adefila said that the play explores universal human traits that defy culture and its language architecture, for language is indeed the architecture of culture. “Human emotions like love, greed, lust, betrayal etc have no language.  We do not cry or laugh in any language and hunger also has no special meaning in any language than what it really is. Nigeria, as a geographical entity is populated by people of diverse cultures and this pluralistic ‘geographical expression’ offers a viable vista for the exploration of the universality of human traits. It does not matter what the sociocultural character is, love, greed, perseverance and forgiveness all means the same.

“As seasoned storytellers, we pride ourselves, of course with a good dose of humility, as consummate performers who have learnt and are still learning the tricks of the profession of storytelling. Our approach to this particular work is a holistic one that covers all the necessary details within reasonable time,” he added.