CUT! — CUT BENEATH THE SILENCE: WHEN THE STAGE BECOMES A VOICE FOR THE GIRL CHILD

Starring Oladotun Olagbadebo and directed by Precious Ojo-Ebenezer, Langfield Pictures’ thought-provoking stage production brings a compelling story of loss, courage and advocacy to Lagos Fringe Festival 2026.

Written by Soji Gbelekale, directed by Precious Ojo-Ebenezer, and starring Oladotun Olagbadebo as Folashade, the production explores the devastating consequences of Female Genital Mutilation through an intimate family tragedy.

According to the Executive produced by Adeyemi Olayinka Olanrewaju, the play brings together creative storytelling and social advocacy to challenge the culture of silence surrounding harmful traditional practices and amplify conversations about the health, dignity and protection of the girl child.

A Story of Loss, Courage and Resistance

At the heart of CUT! — Cut Beneath the Silence is Folashade, portrayed by Oladotun Olagbadebo, a young woman whose life is forever altered when her twin sister, Folakemi, dies at the age of thirteen following complications arising from Female Genital Mutilation.

For Folashade, the tragedy is more than the loss of a sibling. It is the loss of a childhood companion, a shared identity and the innocence that once defined their world.

Ten years later, the wounds remain. But rather than allow grief to become a lifelong prison, Folashade begins a journey of confronting the silence surrounding her sister’s death.

Her transformation from a grieving sister into a courageous advocate forms the emotional foundation of the production.

The character’s journey raises difficult but necessary questions: What happens when harmful traditions are protected by silence? Who speaks for the girls whose voices have been taken away? And how many more lives must be affected before society chooses protection over unquestioned conformity?

These questions are not intended merely to provoke emotion. They are an invitation to reflection, dialogue and collective responsibility.

Precious Ojo-Ebenezer says Directing a Story That Demands to Be Heard, bringing such a sensitive and emotionally layered story to the stage requires an approach that balances dramatic expression with the responsibility of addressing a serious social issue.

Under the direction of Precious Ojo-Ebenezer, CUT! — Cut Beneath the Silence seeks to transform a deeply personal tragedy into a theatrical experience that encourages audiences to confront uncomfortable realities.

The production’s creative direction places emphasis on the human consequences of FGM, ensuring that the central conversation remains focused on the lives affected by the practice rather than reducing the subject to statistics or abstract arguments.

By placing the consequences of FGM within a deeply personal story, the production seeks to help audiences understand not only the physical dangers associated with the practice but also the emotional and psychological consequences that can affect individuals and families.

The production is particularly relevant to teenagers, who are at a formative stage of understanding their bodies, identities, rights and responsibilities.

For young girls, the play carries a message of dignity, bodily integrity and the importance of seeking support when faced with harmful practices.

For boys, it presents an equally important opportunity to develop empathy and understand their role in creating a society where girls are respected and protected.

For parents, educators and community leaders, it offers a reminder that protecting children requires more than good intentions. It demands awareness, open communication and the willingness to challenge practices that place young lives at risk.