the lion and the jewel

WRITTEN BY wole soyinka

DIRECTED BY lola taiwo

Wole Soyinka’s The Lion and the Jewel is a witty, satirical clash of tradition and modernity, blending Yoruba performance, folklore, and humour in a vibrant tale of power, identity, and resilience.

TICKETS

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS

We are looking for Greeters on Feb 19, 20 & 21.

Call time: 6:30 pm
Shift done: 8:00 pm

The Greeter will be positioned by the main entrance of Fort McMurray Composite High School and let patrons in as they arrive, hand out shoe covers, and direct them towards King Street Theatre.

Email hanna@swampratexperience.com for details

finding king street theatre

Located inside Fort McMurray Composite High School (9803 King Street, downtown)
Park in the school parking lot
Enter through the main entrance of the school
Please wear shoe covers provided
Follow signs to King Street Theatre

The Lion and the Jewel, directed by Lola Taiwo, is a vibrant clash of tradition and modernity set in rural Nigeria. Through the rivalry between Baroka, the cunning village chief, and Lakunle, a Westernized schoolteacher, the play explores themes of cultural identity, gender dynamics, and power. Sidi, the beautiful “Jewel,” navigates their competing visions with wit and agency, challenging assumptions about progress and patriarchy. Rich in Yoruba performance traditions - dance, mime, and music - the play critiques colonial influence while celebrating indigenous resilience, ultimately suggesting that true empowerment lies in understanding, not erasing, one’s cultural roots.

Nobel Literary Prize recipient Wole Soyinka’s play fuses biting satire with vivid folklore and pageantry, capturing the tension between tradition and modernity through unforgettable characters and humour.