In front of a packed crowd at the Karen Country Club this past Wednesday, Kenya’s own Davina Leonard performed the final showing of her international, sensational one woman play: Making It!
Written and performed by Davina herself, the piece is a brave exploration into our understanding of success, happiness and self identity. The simple setup of black curtain, wooden prop stage and an all black ensemble belied what was to be an intricate, intimate experience of life, expressed through the talent and humor of this up and coming talent.
The play is about the struggles of a young actress, trying to make it in the challenging and sometimes cruel world of entertainment. Davina plays both the central protagonist, Jess, as well as a series of other characters — whom she skillfully communicates with spot-on accents and definitive body language. There is an undeniable art to what Davina has done with this show, an eloquence of both language and expression, a patchwork of scenes that flow together seamlessly into an experience that had the audience in stitches and then in tears. Every moment, every movement and every word was honest and hilarious in that honesty, a rare quality that has brought this show its rousing success around the world and right here in Kenya.
After a standing ovation UP had the chance to catch up with Davina. Looking into her sparkling green eyes above razor sharp cheekbones, we begin…
When did you first come up with this concept of a one-woman show?
This show was born out of sitting in London and waiting for the phone to ring. I figured if I wanted to act, I would have to make my own show. And that’s what I will be doing from now on — telling my stories, the way I want to tell them. It’s harder, takes longer and is a lot more pressure but the feeling of putting your work out into the world makes the slog worthwhile!
Where have you performed Making It?
This show began life all the way back in 2013, in a tiny café in Camden, London as part of a Fringe festival — I did a handful of shows to a tiny audience — it was a fun concept because the main character in my show works as a waitress and I started the show by bringing a member of the audience an actual latté - but in those days I was so nervous performing that my hands were shaking so much there was never anything left in the cup by the time I started speaking!
Then I performed it at the Roundhouse in Camden — a really beautiful, prestigious venue and then other little Festivals around London; figuring out what worked and what didn’t and changing it all the time.
In 2014 I took MAKING IT! to the largest theatre festival in the world, the Edinburgh Fringe and performed every day for a month - now that was an education! You really learn your self, your audience and your lines!
I then came home for Christmas as I always do and performed it at Tribe Hotel, Muthaiga Country Club, Matbronze Café, Karen Country Club and Talisman Restaurant.
Initially I was worried that performing it to familiar faces in Nairobi was going to be harder than performing it in London but actually it has been the opposite — such warm and receptive audiences!
Is the piece autobiographical in any way?
Whilst I have heightened some of the characters and lines for dramatic effect, absolutely everything in the piece has happened to me — from dressing totally inappropriately for a dance class I wasn’t qualified to be at to turning up to an audition with a plate of baked goods to try and make new friends!
It was a form of therapy of sorts - acting out all the unbelievable instances and horrendous auditions I had been through helped me process them!
What is your background in acting and the arts?
I’ve always wanted to act - apart from school productions my professional debut was as Lady Macbeth for the Phoenix Players at 17, and then anything I could get my hands on really - to little movie roles and more plays around Nairobi.
I auditioned for drama school in the UK for two years - finally being offered a place at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow. I graduated in 2015 and although the rainy weather in Glasgow didn’t agree with me, the course gave me the confidence I was searching for.
Eventually I moved to London to pursue work as an actor - drama school had always been my goal but I realised that at the end of the day it is a training and just a piece of paper. Anyone working in the creative arts will tell you that in this field you have to make your own work and your own way which is what I am trying to do. I try to go to workshops and classes whenever I can. You are never done, there’s always something to learn - whether it is in a class, in a conversation or even during a performance!
We can’t wait to see what Davina Leonard brings next to the Nairobi stage, hints are that she will be bringing us a new show in December. Did you have a chance to watch Davina, let us know in the comments or on social @upnairobi!
