13th March, 2015
Mr. Adeyemo Dacosta, otherwise known as ‘Pa Dee’, a leading member of the Nigerian theatre community and a member of management of the National Troupe of Nigeria, has passed on, P.M.NEWS Entertainment Café learnt.
Adeyemo, a foremost stage manager who holds first and second degrees in Theatre Arts from the University of Ibadan, died on Tuesday night in Lagos.
His colleagues at the National Troupe hinted that the theatre technician, who rose to the rank of Deputy Director in the Federal Public Service from the position of a Stage Manager, was scheduled to travel to India this week for a correction on the kidney operation he had about seven years ago.
Adeyemo underwent a successful transplant in India in 2009 and returned to his duties at the National Troupe. But his decision to return to India this week for a correction meant that he experienced a failure.
A good natured and likeable personality, Dacosta in his lifetime did not do any other work, except for some occasional teaching of theatre arts.
Mentored by a number of theatre icons including the former Artistic Director of the National Troupe, Professor Bayo Oduneye, the late Dacosta was reputed as one of the leading theatre stage managers in Nigeria.
Pa Dee served as assistant director on so many critically acclaimed stage productions including the stage adaptation of Things Fall Apart, Death and the King’s Horseman, The King Must Dance Naked, Trials of Oba Overanmen, Ameh Oboni the Great and Midnight Hotel.
Akin Adejuwon, Artistic Director, National Troupe of Nigeria described as “devastating” the news of Adeyemo’s death.
“He was a committed and very resourceful staff. I have lost a great staff. No doubt, he will be greatly missed,” he said.
The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) has joined several other thespians both in and outside of the country to condole with the family and colleagues of the deceased at the National Troupe. They described his death as “painful” and prayed God to give the family and the staff and artistes of the NTN the fortitude to bear the loss.
Adeyemo was married and had children.