Lagos — The stage adaptation of the classic novel, Things Fall Apart would hold between October 3 and 4 at the Merit House auditorium in Abuja.

The landmark play which is a collaboration between the Jos-based theatre organisation and the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) will climax the year long activities marking the 50th anniversary of the publication of the novel which has been adapted for the stage by the UK based Nigerian novelist and playwright, Biyi Bandele.

The theatre group fresh from a performance of the play in Lagos for the 50th anniversary, courtesy of the Ford Foundation will open with a performance for schools at the Merit House venue as part of the activities marking the 48th independence anniversary of Nigeria and this will be followed by the public performances.

The novel spending 50 years on the bookshelves has sold over three million copies, translated into 40 languages and is read as a text worldwide. It will be recalled that Chinua Achebe, founded ANA on June 27, 1981, when he convened a meeting of notable personalities in Nigerian literature.

"That meeting which was to give birth to ANA was also attended by Ngugi Wa Thiongo and Gacheche Wauringi. The Jos Repertory Theatre founded in 1997 is currently revving up its touring programmes with the aim of taking live theatre to Nigerian cities. With the story of Okonkwo been told on the live stage, it is possible that a lot of us will see lessons inherent in his hardwork, dexterity and reaction to issues - these are lessons that the organisers are hoping audiences will go away with," said Patrick. Jude Oteh of the Jos Repertory Theatre.