American Consulate Hosts Bolanle Austen-Peters Ahead Of Lagos International Theatre Festival

The American Consulate has hosted renowned Nigerian filmmaker and theatre producer, Bolanle Austen-Peters, alongside members of the board of the Lagos International Theatre Festival (LITF), as part of activities leading up to the festival’s major performances.

The gathering celebrated creative partnerships and cultural exchange, bringing together Nigerian and international artistes, entertainment personalities and members of the corporate community.

Austen-Peters shared a video from the event on her Instagram page on Friday, expressing appreciation to the American Consulate for hosting the festival team. She also highlighted performances by talented artistes from Kenya, Canada, South Africa and Nigeria.

Describing the gathering as a memorable experience, the theatre producer praised the participating performers and the impressive turnout of guests. She also invited members of the public to attend the festival’s main performances scheduled for the weekend.

The 2026 edition of the Lagos International Theatre Festival is holding on November 14 and 15 at the MUSON Centre in Lagos.

The festival, themed “The Masks We Wear,” with the campaign slogan “The Stage Is Everywhere,” explores the different identities, responsibilities and roles people assume in their everyday lives through theatre and artistic performances.

Founded by Austen-Peters in 2024, the festival has continued to provide a platform for Nigerian and international theatre practitioners to showcase their creativity, exchange ideas and promote cultural collaboration.

This year’s edition features productions from Nigeria, Kenya, Canada, Brazil and Norway, with a total of 20 plays scheduled to be staged across different performance spaces.

Some of the featured productions include Under The Mango Tree, a Canadian production directed by Lennette Randall; Monkey Laundry, directed by Ola Rotimi; tHERapy, directed by Tosin Adeyemi; and Behind Closed Doors, directed by Austen-Peters.

The weeklong festival programme commenced on November 9 and has featured several activities designed to promote theatre, culture and creative engagement.

Among the highlights are Theatre Meets Food, hosted by celebrity chef Hilda Baci; Embassy Nights, organised in partnership with the British and American embassies; and Conversations and Culture, which featured discussions, industry engagements and masterclasses.

The activities will reach their climax with the main performances on November 14 and 15 at the MUSON Centre, where Nigerian and international artistes are expected to entertain audiences with diverse theatrical productions.