New comedy play 'Lies Will Set You Free' explores success, sibling rivalry

A new stage play, Lies Will Set You Free, is set to be staged at Nyali Cinemax on June 19 in a fast-paced comedic exploration of success, parental pressure, family expectations, generational trauma, escalating lies, misunderstandings, and the fragile comfort of deception.

Presented by Jukwaa Arts Production, the play puts together playwrights Paita Bakari, Michael Micheni, and Caroline Ngorobi in a story that examines how small lies can spiral into overwhelming chaos. It poses the question: how many lies does it take before the truth catches up with you?

The story follows two brothers who are determined to live far beyond their means to earn their mother's validation, whose strict expectations weigh heavily on them. She influences her sons’ actions in different ways, and in doing so, the play shows how achievement is used as a measure of worth in families.

Robert (Hassan Juma) comes from a family of academic excellence, with his mother, brother, and grandparents as high performers.

In an effort to face sibling comparison, he contests for the presidency at his university, compelled by a desire to make his mother (Mary Favour) proud.

When he fails to win the position, he comes up with an elaborate lie to present himself as though he actually won the election. This decision sets off a chain of lies that is difficult to manage. Known for her strict values and high expectations, his mother intensifies Robert’s need to maintain the illusion.

His brother, Bobo Munga (John Mumba), is a man in his early thirties who seems, on paper, to have everything in order. He is intelligent, accomplished, and a holder of first-class honours, but he finds himself uncertain about his direction in life after university. But he puts up an image of a man who is successful, which becomes difficult to sustain.

As the two fabricate success, it is a coping mechanism and a trap, showing how easily insecurity can turn into deception.

Director and playwright Paita Bakari says that the inspiration for the play came from observing how people suppress truth in order to cope with social pressure.

“The story is about two men who are covering things from their strict mother and end up piling up lies. You could have avoided it by telling the truth early on,” he says.

It also touches on when responsibility and expectation are placed on first-born children and it ends up affecting their decisions and well-being.

Even with its serious undertones, Lies Will Set You Free is meant for entertaining audiences. Bakari says that the goal is to engage audiences through humour and a relatable storyline.

“In art, people take what resonates with them the most. For me, it is about entertainment and having a good laugh. We don’t do edutainment plays. They could be entertained and still think about societal themes, but the priority is entertainment and relatable issues,” he says.