The name Heartstrings Ensemble was first coined by its original versatile founder the late Erastus Owuor during his heydays at the Kenya Polytechnic now Kenya Polytechnic University, as a vehicle to express himself, and a bunch of other creatively endowed students and colleagues at the college.

This was in the late 80s. Consequently upon finishing his Graphics Design course, he joined theatre full throttle, and during his ventures he met and saw the potential of actors Victor Ber, Ken Waudo, Fanuel Odera and Helen Namai, who were then based at the KELC Jerusalem. They were later joined by the likes of actors as Ann Mwalagho, Anne Nderitu, Brenda Gacheru, and The Late Michael Voihya amongst others to form the vocal Falaki Arts Ensemble, which was later to be registered by the ministry of culture. Sammy Mwangi was the then able assistant to Erastus Owuor.

Falaki did a lot of community theatre and was supported all the time with the British Council, whose cultural director was a good friend and proponent to the Kenyan theatrical scene as it is envisioned today. Upon the natural demise of the Falaki troupe, the troupe re gathered and mooted out the formation of a conventional theatrical-like group, Erastus fished out of his briefcase heartstrings ensemble-with the founder members being, himself and the team leader, Sammy Mwangi his Assistant, Ken Waudo, Victor Ber, Anne Mwalagho and Michael Voihya, as the active founder members, the first play was the satirical drama ‘Antigone’.

It was free to watch, but with an invitation card. Eventually our clout and wisdom directed the group to slapstick comedies, a turf Sammy was familiar with and passionate about. The first of this comedies-christened ‘bedroom comedies’ by the media critics- was ‘make piano love’ directed by Sammy Mwangi starring, victor Ber, ken Waudo and Ann Mwalagho at the British Council’s 90 seater auditorium on the ICEA building.

Here is where heartstrings developed a clientele that eventually started paying, having been convinced of the quality from the exclusive performances it offered there. The crowds followed us everywhere to date, going through the Goethe Institut’s auditorium, Maison Française auditorium, the Kenya National Theatre auditorium, KICC, Nakuru Players Theatre, Little Theatre auditorium-Mombasa amongst other numerous venues strewn in Kenya as well as East Africa.

Internationally, Erastus Owuor was the first Kenyan to perform under the heartstrings banner in the acclaimed theatrical event- the 1998 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. AS OF TODAY HEARTSTRINGS has since acquired a new name signifying the dynamism of the process of becoming Kenya’s leading theatrical troupe, Heartstrings Kenya. With the following directors taking full charge; Sammy Mwangi- Team Leader, Ken Waudo- Developments Director, Victor Ber- Director of Operations, Dan Ndambuki- Executive Producer.

Others in the team include, Ann Mwalagho- based in the US, as the Diaspora Director. The staffers include Kenneth Macharia- Administrative Assistant and Head of Sales, John Arum-IT Consultant, Dale K’Otengo- Set Design Consultant, Larry Asego -Linguist and Creative’s Consultant. Our current development partners include but limited to the following:

1. Venue and Space Partner- Alliance Française De Nairobi,
2. Website, IT Support and Service Provision- Zenith Media Company Ltd,
3. Publicity and Support- Nation Media Group,
4. Publicity and Support- the Radio Africa Group- Kissfm, Radio Jambo and Classic 105fm.
5. Corporate Social Responsibility- Rotaract Club of Westlands