Andymaxe Entertainment – best known for its children’s theatre and film classes – made its biggest leap yet with its first public stage production, The Vows and The Vices, which premiered to a full house at the Kenya National Theatre on November 26.
The romantic drama-comedy marked a milestone for the company and its founders, actor-creatives Andrew Smollo and Boera Bisieri, who performed together on stage for the first time as a married couple.
The main KNT auditorium was packed, a rare achievement for a midweek show.
“The turnout was amazing. The reception from the audience was overwhelming, and the feedback has been so good that people are already asking for Part 2 — and asking us to stage it as soon as possible,” Boera said.
The show’s poster, which featured the couple in a comic standoff as lead characters Sheila and Fred, teased the theme: “Love, Lies and Everything in Between.” Judging by the crowd, audiences connected strongly with the story.
But behind the seamless performance was a high-pressure push to make the production work.
Smollo and Boera took leave from their corporate jobs to focus fully on the show.
“This show was going to set the pace for everything we want to do going forward,” Smollo said.
The script, curated by Muraya Wanjoki and written by Ted Munene and Emmanuel Chindia, was emotionally heavy and pushed both their craft and their marriage.
“Working as a couple was very challenging, especially because the script was heavy. We were telling each other really tough words in character. We disagreed a lot. We even sought counselling to help us separate Boera and Smollo from Sheila and Fred,” Boera said.
They were also juggling production duties, often staying up with writers until 4am before reporting to their day jobs just hours later.
The couple credits much of the show’s success to the team around them. Director Benson Ojuwa (Bentekee) “believed in the vision and kept us in check through the entire process,” while production manager Tizza Reginah was described as “the glue of the show,” making sure every moving part came together.
They split responsibilities according to their strengths: Smollo handled people and coordination, while Boera led marketing, PR and finances; working with media creative Yobri on content, branding and advertising.
Following strong demand for a repeat, the couple is planning a Valentine’s Week rerun in February 2026. They are also seeking sponsorship to take the show to other towns and possibly outside Kenya as part of a wider tour.
Andymaxe is also preparing for a busy 2026. “We are looking to stage at least three plays next year — one each quarter,” Smollo said.
Meanwhile, the second edition of their children’s and teens’ theatre and film classes will run from December 9–13 at the Kenya National Theatre, targeting children aged 3–17 with training in acting, confidence-building, critical thinking, speech therapy, camera work and more.
For a company rooted in growing young talent, The Vows and The Vices signals Andymaxe’s readiness to claim its space in Kenya’s theatre scene.
A full auditorium, glowing reviews and immediate demand for a rerun mark an impressive first outing.
As for Smollo and Boera, they say their biggest win was proving that love and art can coexist.
“Thank you for showing us love and filling the auditorium on a Wednesday. You made this dream real,” the duo said.