CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Theatre can be defined from different points of understanding. Drama or theatre is as old as Homo sapiens. Its origin can be traced to the period when humans first set foot on the earth. According to Brocket
“theatre emerged out of myth and ritual. Anthropologists in the 19th and early 20th centuries, point out that during the early stages of the development of drama, a society becomes aware of the forces that appear to influence or control its food supply and well-being”, (4).
Desirable and undesirable occurrences are attributed to supernatural or magical forces. In the struggle to combat the undesirable and sustain the desirable; Brocket notes that “the society believes that continuity, refinement and formalization of actions into fixed ceremonies was the key”, (4). Nigerian drama has been influenced by drama emerging from other climes such as Greece, United States, Western Europe and the Scandinavia. Drama and theatre originated from Greece and United States of America. The 6th edition was critised based on the fact that it was centered on European theatre and excluded the Africa theatre.
Ayakoroma says that western historiography has it that stories (myths) grow around rituals. Frequently, the myths include representations of those supernatural forces that the rites celebrate or hope to influence. Performers may wear costumes and masks and represent the mythical characters of supernatural forces in the rituals or in accompanying celebrations. As the people become more sophisticated, their conceptions of supernatural forces and causal relationships may change, (102).
Consequently, they abandon or modify some rites. But the myths that have grown up around the rites may continue as part of the group‘s oral tradition and may even come to be acted out under conditions divorced from ritualistic concerns. But looking at this position above, it looks more of modern theatre because theatre in African context is traceable to festival celebration. The scenario is quite reminiscent of all dramatic origins including from Africa. Africa does have a theatre culture, a history and a civilization that predates her contact with the West. The origin of drama therefore cannot be traced in isolation to Greece or any other part of Europe. The origins of all dramatic forms are also traceable to Africa. Drama is inherent in the life of the African and his continued combat with the forces of nature.
The term theatre is a word derived from Greek word ‘’theatron’’ meaning a place of seeing. Theatre as a field in the tertiary institution has been appreciated by students and non students. Many people seek theatre knowledge so as to understand some of the genres of theatre which include play, drama, song, and dance.
Theatre knowledge in tertiary institution is the acquisition of theatre activities among undergraduate students. The quest for theatre knowledge is ability of students to seek for professional knowledge of theatre productions within a designated time (four years).
1.2 Statement of Problem
Theatre knowledge covers all sectors of entertainments such as comedy, festival, song, dance, drama, movie and other socio cultural activities. Theatre knowledge had gained significant desire by many young people especially students in tertiary institution where Theatre Arts courses are offered as a degree programme. However, due to the recent advancement digital technologies, so many social media influencers have been using the platform as a way of creating theatre contents which ordinarily require them to learn from a curriculum designated institution like Delta State University, therefore, this research is important to examine the quests for theatre knowledge in Delta State University with regards to the challenges and prospects.
1.3 Aims and Objectives
The project seeks to investigate the challenges and prospects of theatre knowledge in Delta State University, Abraka with focus on the followings;
i. To investigate how undergraduate students of Theatre Art Department consider theatre knowledge as important to the achieve of their academic pursuit.
ii. To find out the challenges and prospects of theatre knowledge for the undergraduate students in the department of Theatre Arts.
1.4 Significance of the Study
It is expected that the people will see the need to seek for professional theatre knowledge from experienced professionals in the theatre industry as well as obtain professional and educational training in Theatre Arts schools in the country. When this done, the knowledge of the people would create opportunities for livelihood as they will gainfully engaged more than those without professional theatre knowledge.
1.5 Scope of the Study
This project seeks to cover the quest for theatre knowledge with regards to the challenges and prospects. The study will focus on students in the Department of Theatre Arts, Delta State University, Abraka.
1.6 Rationale for the Study
The project is imperative because there is no research that focuses on this aspect. Perhaps, researchers had not seen it as a problem in the society. This is why, the researcher seeks to carry out this research. According to Chukwuma Anyanwu, “Many people especially, Nigerians, have refused to see anything good in Theatre Arts either as a profession or an academic discipline or in theatre artists as useful members of the society”, (1).
1.7 Research Methodology
For the purpose of this study, the researcher will adopt the literary method which involves the analysis of books, journals, reports and other printed data. Also, the study will adopt interview method of generating of data from the students. this will be used for analysis.
1.8 Limitations of the Study
In the course of this research, the major challenges the researcher anticipated for this research are limited materials to carry out this project work and financial constraint.
