Theatre for Development
Theatre and Development:
Opportunities and Challenges in a Developing World
Theatre. National Development. Theatre for Development. Theatre and Development
ABSTRACT
This paper is an attempt at espousing the pertinence of theatre in national development, especially in a developing African nation-state like Nigeria. In doing this, the paper identifies and discusses the exploitable opportunities that go along with the deployment of theatre in enhancing national development. The paper concludes that theatre, in whatever form, has a vital role to play towards creating a strong, responsive and effective representative institution and in advancing the frontiers of development in any society, particularly in the African context.
INTRODUCTION
Several attempts have been made by theatre scholars to link theatre and development. Indeed the attempt to link theatre and the concept of development whether local, national or global, has a long history. Presently there exists an ob- session among theatre and literary scholars to prove, outside the attempts by great philosophers like Aristotle and Plato Pupil, that theatre, whether in the literary or performative form has a contri- bution to make to the development of the society.
Obafemi (2003) asserts that theatre and develop- ment has a twin existence. He observes that like development, theatre ‘derives from source- people, the community, playing roles and finding expressions and solutions to life threatening prob- lems’. It is for that reason that Obafemi contends that those in search of the link should take a more cursory view of Shakespeare’s famous charac- terization of the world as a stage.
But one of the most referenced (earliest) at- tempt at linking theatre and development is the explanation offered by the Greek Philosopher
Plato who argued, (as cited in Onukaba-Ojo
2003) that the ‘disposition of citizens has a great impact on the social, political, economical and even technological advancement of any society’.
Plato as
Opportunities and Challenges in a Developing World
Theatre. National Development. Theatre for Development. Theatre and Development
ABSTRACT
This paper is an attempt at espousing the pertinence of theatre in national development, especially in a developing African nation-state like Nigeria. In doing this, the paper identifies and discusses the exploitable opportunities that go along with the deployment of theatre in enhancing national development. The paper concludes that theatre, in whatever form, has a vital role to play towards creating a strong, responsive and effective representative institution and in advancing the frontiers of development in any society, particularly in the African context.
INTRODUCTION
Several attempts have been made by theatre scholars to link theatre and development. Indeed the attempt to link theatre and the concept of development whether local, national or global, has a long history. Presently there exists an ob- session among theatre and literary scholars to prove, outside the attempts by great philosophers like Aristotle and Plato Pupil, that theatre, whether in the literary or performative form has a contri- bution to make to the development of the society.
Obafemi (2003) asserts that theatre and develop- ment has a twin existence. He observes that like development, theatre ‘derives from source- people, the community, playing roles and finding expressions and solutions to life threatening prob- lems’. It is for that reason that Obafemi contends that those in search of the link should take a more cursory view of Shakespeare’s famous charac- terization of the world as a stage.
But one of the most referenced (earliest) at- tempt at linking theatre and development is the explanation offered by the Greek Philosopher
Plato who argued, (as cited in Onukaba-Ojo
2003) that the ‘disposition of citizens has a great impact on the social, political, economical and even technological advancement of any society’.
Plato as
References: com/dev&234/ (Retrieved March 27, 2009) Jeyifo Biodun 1989 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_change (Retrieved August 26, 2009) frontmatter. (Retrieved October 26, 2008) Nasidi Yakubu 2003 Lagos, March 18, 2003. March 26, 2003. Edition, 1997. From www. Jos), Plateau State, November 6 to 8, 1998.