Nairobi, April 9 -- For many theatre lovers in Nairobi, a sold-out show signals success. Full houses, loyal audiences, and growing cultural relevance suggest a creative enterprise that has found its rhythm.

But behind the applause lies a more complex reality: sold out does not always mean profitable.

Ngartia, whose official name is Ngatia Kimani, a writer and actor who prefers the simpler label "storyteller" knows this all too well. As co-founder of Too Early For Birds (TEFB) alongside Abu Sense (Abubakar Nuuman), he has watched the production evolve from a passion project into a demanding, high-stakes creative business.

"We didn't know what selling out meant," he says of their first show. "It took a while, and some hard lessons."

TEF...