FREE ME THE PLAY PRESS RELEASE

The woman behind Kenya’s biggest theatre hits is re-The woman behind Kenya’s biggest theatre hits is re staging her award-winning play the story of how a staging her award-winning play the story of how a marriage almost killed her. marriage almost killed her. The woman behind Kenya’s biggest theatre hits is re staging her award-winning play the story of how a marriage almost killed her. FREE ME is Gathoni’s first personal stage project, but it is also her truth about surviving a marriage that quickly became a war zone, and then finding freedom on the other side of that violence. Based on her own experience, FREE ME follows one woman from teenager to survivor, through a relationship that promised love, but delivered brutality – played by a stellar cast comprising of Nungari Kiore, Renee Gichuki, Joan Cherono, Ella Maina, Gathoni Mutua, Tobit Tom as ’Prince’.

The original work that sparked this production was initially The original work that sparked this production was initially researched and written by researched and written by Magunga Williams Magunga Williams. This . This production then transforms that story gold into art that production then transforms that story gold into art that could save lives; no wonder it went on to get could save lives; no wonder it went on to get 66 nominations and nominations and 44 wins at the 2026 Kenya Theatre wins at the 2026 Kenya Theatre Awards. Awards. Its title works both ways: it is a desperate cry for help and Its title works both ways: it is a desperate cry for help and a victory anthem for someone who made it out alive. a victory anthem for someone who made it out alive. In Kenya, gender-based violence statistics climb higher In Kenya, gender-based violence statistics climb higher each month. Gathoni knows her story carries weight each month. Gathoni knows her story carries weight beyond entertainment. She and a few others have been beyond entertainment. She and a few others have been fortunate enough to walk away, but many are not. fortunate enough to walk away, but many are not. The original work that sparked this production was initially researched and written by Magunga Williams. This production then transforms that story gold into art that could save lives; no wonder it went on to get 6 nominations and 4 wins at the 2026 Kenya Theatre Awards. Its title works both ways: it is a desperate cry for help and a victory anthem for someone who made it out alive. In Kenya, gender-based violence statistics climb higher each month. Gathoni knows her story carries weight beyond entertainment. She and a few others have been fortunate enough to walk away, but many are not. Back from successfully producing Nyashinski’s Back from successfully producing Nyashinski’s Showman Showman Residency Residency, produced by , produced by Gathoni Kimuyu Gathoni Kimuyu and directed and directed by by Mugambi Nthiga Mugambi Nthiga, Gathoni , Gathoni reunites with Mugambi -reunites with Mugambi Director of the Year at the Kenya Theatre Awards 2023, Director of the Year at the Kenya Theatre Awards 2023, 2025 and 2026 - for a rerun of 2025 and 2026 - for a rerun of FREE ME FREE ME.. Their work on Their work on Too Early For Bird Too Early For Birds and s and Tom Mboya Tom Mboya isis legendary in Kenyan theatre, winning multiple awards and legendary in Kenyan theatre, winning multiple awards and needs no introduction for its reputation; needs no introduction for its reputation; FREE ME FREE ME joins the joins the list of their most awarded work together. list of their most awarded work together. Mugambi Nthiga has been a long standing essential in Mugambi Nthiga has been a long standing essential in Kenya’s art scene much like Gathoni, and now, they are Kenya’s art scene much like Gathoni, and now, they are once again channeling that chemistry into the rerun of the once again channeling that chemistry into the rerun of the show.

Together they will answer the question, ‘ Together they will answer the question, ‘how do you how do you direct someone telling the story of their own survival? direct someone telling the story of their own survival?’’ ‘‘How do you stage trauma without causing more How do you stage trauma without causing more harm? harm?’’ The answer involves five women on stage who embody The answer involves five women on stage who embody different parts of a survivor’s journey; past selves, present different parts of a survivor’s journey; past selves, present realities, and future possibilities, all converging into one realities, and future possibilities, all converging into one powerful story of resilience. powerful story of resilience. Together they will answer the question, ‘how do you direct someone telling the story of their own survival?’ ‘How do you stage trauma without causing more harm?’ The answer involves five women on stage who embody different parts of a survivor’s journey; past selves, present realities, and future possibilities, all converging into one powerful story of resilience. Saumu Kombo Saumu Kombo joins them, fresh from winning Best joins them, fresh from winning Best Scripted TV Series at the Scripted TV Series at the AMVCA 2025 AMVCA 2025.. Her work spans Market Price to Midnight Train. Her work spans Market Price to Midnight Train. Mercy Mutisya Mercy Mutisya, Best Scriptwriter at the , Best Scriptwriter at the Women In Film Women In Film Awards 2023, Awards 2023, brings experience from Showmax, M-Net, brings experience from Showmax, M-Net, and Netflix with productions like and Netflix with productions like Untying Kantai Untying Kantai and and Click Click Bang Click Click Bang under her belt.

This is theatre as activism, art as healing, and performance This is theatre as activism, art as healing, and performance as permission to speak up and refuse to carry shame that as permission to speak up and refuse to carry shame that was never yours. It’s a reminder that gender based violence was never yours. It’s a reminder that gender based violence conversations should not be seasonal but every day. conversations should not be seasonal but every day. For survivors, it offers validation. Your pain For survivors, it offers validation. Your pain matters matters. Your . Your survival survival counts counts.. For everyone else, it is a stark reminder: the woman serving For everyone else, it is a stark reminder: the woman serving your coffee, directing your favourite show, sitting next to your coffee, directing your favourite show, sitting next to you in traffic, might be fighting battles you can’t imagine. you in traffic, might be fighting battles you can’t imagine. This is theatre as activism, art as healing, and performance as permission to speak up and refuse to carry shame that was never yours. It’s a reminder that gender based violence conversations should not be seasonal but every day. For survivors, it offers validation. Your pain matters. Your survival counts. For everyone else, it is a stark reminder: the woman serving your coffee, directing your favourite show, sitting next to you in traffic, might be fighting battles you can’t imagine. Gathoni Gathoni spent fifteen years telling other people stories. Now spent fifteen years telling other people stories. Now she’s betting everything on her own truth. In a world where she’s betting everything on her own truth. In a world where too many women don’t make it out of violent relationships too many women don’t make it out of violent relationships alive, watching someone who did is both heartbreaking, and alive, watching someone who did is both heartbreaking, and hopeful. hopeful. Some stories demand to be told. Some truths refuse to stay Some stories demand to be told. Some truths refuse to stay buried. buried. This This June June, witness what happens when Gathoni Kimuyu –, witness what happens when Gathoni Kimuyu that’s that’s Queen Gathoni Queen Gathoni to you – steps into the spotlight again to you – steps into the spotlight again with hers. with hers. Gathoni spent fifteen years telling other people stories. Now she’s betting everything on her own truth. In a world where too many women don’t make it out of violent relationships alive, watching someone who did is both heartbreaking, and hopeful. Some stories demand to be told. Some truths refuse to stay buried. This June, witness what happens when Gathoni Kimuyu that’s Queen Gathoni to you – steps into the spotlight again with hers. FREE ME opens at C.U. Shah Jain Bhavan in Loresho on FREE ME opens at C.U. Shah Jain Bhavan in Loresho on Friday, June 5th at 7 PM. Friday, June 5th at 7 PM. Shows continue through the weekend. Saturday at 3 PM Shows continue through the weekend. Saturday at 3 PM and 7 PM, and Sunday at 3 PM and 7 PM. and 7 PM, and Sunday at 3 PM and 7 PM.