Oluchi Chibuzor
BAP Productions’ London staging of Dear Kaffy – Diary of a Single Woman in Lagos has closed to strong acclaim, with full houses at every performance and positive reviews from audiences, critics, and theatre enthusiasts.
The production which ran from August 7th to 9th at the Shaw Theatre, Euston Road, London, introduced the energy, humour, and storytelling of Nigerian theatre to London audiences, resonating with both the Nigerian diaspora and the wider theatre community.
According to a statement, across the run, audiences responded with consistent enthusiasm, marked by laughter, applause, and standing ovations. It revealed that critics and theatre observers praised the production’s quality, performances, and storytelling, noting its ability to present a distinctly Nigerian narrative in a way that felt accessible and engaging to London audiences.
“A key outcome of the run was growing demand for more Nigerian theatre in the UK. Audience members and theatre stakeholders have called on BAP Productions to return to London every summer with a new production, effectively proposing an annual BAP Productions theatre season in London.
“The success of Dear Kaffy reflects increasing international appetite for African stories and high-quality African stage productions. For BAP Productions, the London engagement reinforces its broader mission of bringing Nigerian stories, talent, and productions to global audiences.
“The production was made possible with the sponsorship from Access Bank UK and with partners including Bank of America, Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce, Bank of Industry, Channels TV, WimBiz, Lagos Mums, Beat FM, Molly Africa, Africa Movie Channel, Heavy wind media, university of Westminster, and Bridge Clinic, whose contributions helped bring the production to the international stage,” it added.
Commenting on the reception, the Director, Bolanle Austen-Peters said: “We are deeply grateful to everyone who came out to see Dear Kaffy. The response has been extraordinary. To have a full house at every performance and to hear audiences asking us to return every summer is incredibly encouraging. It tells us that African stories have a home on the global stage, and we are excited about what this could mean for the future.”
It revealed that following the success of the London run, BAP Productions is exploring the possibility of making London a regular stop on its international theatre calendar.
“The response from London audiences was clear: Nigerian theatre is ready for the world — and London is ready for more,” it added.