Her most challenging work till date, memorizing the over 1,480 lines in Elephant 18 a one-man play written by a Scottish playwright Emma. The Street Project Ambassador of the Week, Gift Chikere was challenged by her mentor Wole Oguntokun, one of the Faculty Members of Street Project Foundation Creative Youth Boot Camp and Artistic Director – Theatre Republic, to face her fears and do what she thought impossible. She held her audience spell bound for an hour performing what I’ll call a psychotic play and she out did herself. Transitioned from just being an Estate Management Graduate who loves spoken word to an actor and performing artist in all ramifications. In her words “I have been stretched in every sense of it…” the sacrifice necessary to becoming the best version of ones self.
Besides starring in Elephant 18 as a lead character, she has also performed in plays such as Room 69, Moremi, Prison Chronicles just to mention a few, where she played masculine roles. When asked why? She says, “Theatre has no gender”. Gift has also had the rare privilege of having veterans in the field like Caro King and Ibinabor Fiberesima see and celebrate her work.
The Gift, a Spoken Word Artiste who became a Street Project Ambassador after participating in the Creative Youth Boot Camp four months ago and had no interest in pursuing an acting career, says “I have fallen in love even more with the acting world and I am certainly still falling”
Gift Chikere is also a recipient of the 2nd Place Prize in Spoken Word Category of the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development Talent Hunt Competition.
The Street Light is on you Gift. We look forward to seeing you on the world stage and big screens next.