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THEATRE AS A SOCIAL RE-ORIENTATION TOOL

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The term "theatre" refers to a performance intended to entertain, inform, educate, or communicate. The performance might take place in a theatre, on the street, or in a market square. "As much as theatre entertains, it also has the potential to elicit reflection or action on serious topics" (Illah, 2014). However, theorists maintained that theatre flourished for such a long period of time in the hands of the bourgeois. They utilized it to oppress and coerce. This established a stratum in society that supported and participated in the tyranny of the masses, relegating theatre to the privileged few. However, with his work Tragedy and The Ordinary Man, dramatists such as Arthur Miller began to reflect the sad predicament of the common man. Augusto Boa! expanded on his notion by removing theatre from the confines of conventional stagecraft and placing it in the hands of the populace (Palms 2012). Boat's essay is included in his work, The Oppressed Theatre. According to Ngugi Wa' Thiongo, theatre is a weapon that should be used by the people. In reference to Africa specifically, he wrote: "If theatre is to thrive in Africa, it must be founded accurately on the lives of peasants and laborers."

According to Nkrumah (2013), as a result, theatre has developed through time to become a vehicle for development communication. Theatre is used in what is known as Theatre for Development to aid in the process of altering outdated behaviors, attitudes, beliefs, and practices. It enables everyone to participate (participate) in an activity (solve an issue) that affects them (development) (Illah, 2014).

Thus, this research intends to examine how theatre is utilized as a vehicle for social reorientation and development, with particular reference to the joint work on voter education conducted by Youth Adolescent Reflection and Action Centre (YARAC) and Global Rights in Panyam, central Plateau. Due to the fact that the various political leaders in this country are affiliated with various political parties, it has bred division within the country along political lines (Yusuf 2014). Additionally, it aids politicians in election rigging. Global Rights/YARAC intended to address the issue of voters retaining control of their votes during elections.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

As efficient as Theatre for Development is, it has remained a tool in the hands of a few number of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and university students, owing to the fact that they are required to teach the course as a prerequisite for getting a degree in Theatre Arts. However, there are drawbacks to using this medium, including technique, insufficient money, a lack of social conscience, and a lack of an efficient monitoring and evaluation approach to ensure the sustainability of any change gained (Yusuf 2014). The purpose of this work is to analyze how the usage of Theatre for Development increased people's awareness and enabled them to act against their political oppressors.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The primary aim of this study is to examine the theatre as a social re-orientation tool. Specifically, other objectives of this study are:

i.          To examine whether the theatre is  important to the society.

ii.        To determine the functions of theatre in the society.

iii.      To determine whether the theatre has a role to play in the development of the country.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following research questions will be answered in this study:

i.          Is the theatre important to the society?

ii.        What are the functions of theatre in the society?

iii.      Does the theatre have a role to play in the development of the country?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

As the theatre grows in popularity in Nigeria, further research is needed to establish effective practices. This is one of the studies that will be contributed to the growing body of knowledge in the field of Theatre for Development. The documenting of this best practice will add to the method's growth in terms of methodology, procedures, and other variables critical to the project's success. Additionally, significant difficulties influencing the practice of TfD will be studied in order to discover potential solutions that would benefit practitioners in this sector.

Throughout history, the majority of theatrical presentation has adhered to Aristotle's ideas of building, until Augusto Boal began to discuss the actor-spectator interaction, which is essentially about their integration. As a result of the theatre's use of this strategy, new insights on the relationship between these two groups in the sphere of theatre are developing. Additional lessons learned through the Global/YARAC projects will aid scholars in deriving insights from the effect, impact, and challenges associated with this mode of action. This may aid in the development of new ideas of acting in which amateurs serve as cast and crew, conveying with their relatives what pros previously did. Additionally, this research will look at the thaetre's ultimate objective and how it was accomplished using this strategy. This should assist other Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) that use this method in effectively communicating their views.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study will be focused on examining the theatre as a social re-orientation tool. Specifically, it will be focused on examining whether the theatre is  important to the society, determining the functions of theatre in the society and determining whether the theatre has a role to play in the development of the country. Selected staff of the National theatre, Lagos State will serve as enrolled participants for the survey of this study.

1.7 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

As with any human endeavor, the researcher experienced small impediments while performing the study. Due to the scarcity of literature on the subject as a result of the discourse's nature, the researcher incurred additional financial expenses and spent additional time sourcing for relevant materials, literature, or information, as well as during the data collection process, which is why the researcher chose a small sample size. Additionally, the researcher conducted this inquiry in conjunction with other scholarly pursuits. Additionally, because only a small number of respondents were chosen to complete the research instrument, the results cannot be applied to other secondary schools outside the state. Regardless of the limits faced throughout the investigation, all aspects were reduced to ensure the best outcomes and the most productive research.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Theatre: Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage.

Social Reorientation: The action of changing the focus or direction of something.

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