Yinka Olatunbosun
Recently, the National Theatre, in collaboration with Story Theatre, brought youthful energy and moral reflection to the stage with I Wish, I Wish, a Broadway-style children’s musical directed by Bola Edward, fondly known as Grandma Wura.
Staged on August 22 and 23 at Terra Kulture, Lagos, the two-day production was a sell-out, drawing audiences into a world of masks, costumes, and spirited performances by children aged 8 to 16. The show blended music, dance, and humour with an underlying moral depth that resonated with both children and adults.
The narrative, framed by Grandma Wura’s storytelling, follows Nkechi, a city girl weary of holiday chores in her grandmother’s village. In a fit of frustration, she wishes to become an ant—only to discover that even the smallest creatures face hard work, responsibility, and sacrifice.
With its vibrant staging and youthful cast, I Wish, I Wish proved that children’s theatre can be as entertaining as it is instructive, reminding audiences that the simplest stories often carry the weightiest truths.
Set across a classroom, the city, and a traditional Igbo village, I Wish, I Wish combined vivid costumes, sound effects, and choreography to tell a story about teamwork, love, service, and the dignity of hard work—values embodied by the ant colony.
“Be careful what you wish for, because the wind of wishes might just be around the corner to grant it,” warned Grandma Wura at the close of the performance, linking the ants’ spirit of cooperation to the unity Nigerians need for nation-building.
National Theatre CEO Tola Akerele, who championed the summer programme, praised the collaboration as part of efforts to nurture young talent. “This summer at the National Theatre, I had the privilege of championing our younger voices through the Children’s Summer Camp in partnership with Proud African Roots,” she said. “Across music, dance, drama, and storytelling, the children reminded us why the arts matter because they give space for imagination, confidence, and community to grow.”
According to Akerele, the children underwent 19 days of intensive training in acting, singing, and dancing before the play. “They came in timid, some with little skill. But what they delivered in less than three weeks is remarkable. Beyond theatre, they gained discipline, teamwork, and leadership skills. This is what excites me most.”
She described Grandma Wura as an excellent collaborator whose passion for children’s theatre made the production outstanding. “The National Theatre is going to be a beacon of light for the youth. Nigeria is a youthful nation, and we must be youth-focused if we want to secure the future of our creative economy,” Akerele said.
Akerele also hailed Grandma Wura as an inspired collaborator and reaffirmed the National Theatre’s commitment to youth development. “Nigeria is a youthful nation, and we must be youth-focused if we want to secure the future of our creative economy,” she added.
For the young cast, the cheers were both a reward and recognition of their growing place in Nigeria’s creative space. For the audience, I Wish, I Wish was more than entertainment—it was a reminder of the power of the arts to inspire hope, discipline, and cooperation.
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