Damilola Oligbinde, also known as Ifenla, has made her debut as a dramatist in a play at the University of Bradford. She began her master's degree programme at the University of Bradford in September 2025 as a Rotary Peace Fellow studying Peace, Conflict and Development. Her academic programme included being the President of the Drama Society, where she organized several creative and theatric activities for the student community.
During her time at the university, Ifenla curated and executed various activities, including a three-woman cast acting of Vagina Monologue, a short selection from the feminist classic by Eve Ensler in March 2026. This event showcased her ability to bring people together through creative activities. In May 2026, she was part of a group, Reachart Network, that produced a stage play, “Pit to Palace”, an adaptation of the story of Joseph in the Bible.
Ifenla played a significant role in the production of “Pit to Palace” as a co-writer of the script and the lead role of “Josephine”. This innovative move sought to disrupt traditional practices where men played male-inclined roles. The production was witnessed by a diverse set of people in the Bradford community, including African and Caribbean people in diaspora, South Asian and British.
Ifenla's motivation for venturing into this project was her belief that creativity is a tool of peacebuilding with great potential on its own, rather than as an add-on. Her debut in “Pit to Palace” was a deliberate creative process that shows that theatre is not gender biased, and when people embody a character, it gives them the opportunity to frame a world that is relatable to the audience.
When asked about her future plans as it relates to theatre, Ifenla says that theatre is not a destination for her, but a journey. She has been part of a theatre group for over 5 years as an undergraduate law student, which has shaped her writing and stage performance skills. She also runs a community-based organization in Nigeria, Ark and Rainbow Development Foundation, which delivers projects that allow young people to use their creativity for social change.
As a Rotary Peace Fellow, Ifenla is doing an MA in Peace, Conflict and Development at the University of Bradford. She plans to explore different areas of theatre, especially applied theatre, to tackle social issues in the UK, Nigeria and the world at large. Her experience in theatre and peacebuilding has equipped her with the skills to make a positive impact in her community.
Key points
- Damilola Oligbinde, aka Ifenla, makes her theatre debut as a dramatist in a play at the University of Bradford.
- Ifenla's production, “Pit to Palace”, disrupts traditional practices by having a female play a male-inclined role.
- Ifenla plans to explore applied theatre to tackle social issues in the UK, Nigeria and the world at large.
