Kenneth Uphopho

Biography

Kenneth Uphopho is a distinguished Nigerian director, actor, writer, festival director, and acting coach with over two decades of experience in performance, artistic direction, and festival management. He is the founder and festival director of both the Lagos Fringe and Abuja Fringe festivals, which are open-access multidisciplinary arts festivals in Nigeria. Uphopho also serves as the Artistic Director and Managing Partner at PAWSTUDIOS, a production company he co-founded in 2011 with his partner Brenda Fashugba. PAWSTUDIOS offers audiences a diverse program of Nigerian plays, experimental works, musicals, and live events, and facilitates training for emerging voices in the arts through boot camp programs. Prior to his focus on theatre and festival management, Uphopho had a professional career as a dancer and choreographer spanning over seven years. His extensive experience includes directing critically acclaimed productions and collaborating with a diverse range of producers, artists, and companies. He has also held the position of Festival Director for the British Council Lagos Theatre Festival from 2014 to 2018, during which he expanded the scope of the festival from 16 performances to 109 events in two years, featuring over 500 productions with 25 international showcases.