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Some creative practitioners have raised concerns over the Federal Government’s reluctance to prioritise, finance and create an enabling environment for Theatre to thrive in the country.
The practitioners who spoke after watching the screening of a live stage ballet performance: “Shim Chung: A Legend from the Far East“ at the Korea Cultural Centre (KCCN) in Abuja, insisted that Theatre was a multi-billion naira revenue generating sector which the government should explore.
Artistic Director, Abuja Royal Theatre, Jerry Adesewo who listed funding as the greatest challenge confronting the sector, noted that with the right policies in place such as tax relief for investing in a cultural product, the sector would be able to attract investors to help close the huge gap currently existing in Theatre production.
He said: “The greatest challenge is funding and a lot of things are attached to funding. Here in Abuja where are the theaters? Where are the museums? Where are the concert halls we don’t have them?
“If we have the policy that creates an enabling environment for the art scene to thrive, businesses will fall over each other.
“The government is not investing in theatre in Nigeria, and they are also not creating the enabling environment as we see in other parts of the world.
“When you have like a production like this, we look at the end credit and everything. You will see the long list of people who are involved and all of these people have what we call tax relief for investing in a cultural product in a theater. Where is the policy for us that will make a Globacom, a Zenith bank, BUA group invest hundreds of millions of dollars into a production? Theatre is not a priority.”
Adesewo who however disclosed that the demand for performing art was on the increase, added that although theatre practitioners were playing their role in making creativity more attractive, there was always room for for improvement.
A Creative practitioner, Doris Igori who urged federal and state governments to embrace Theatre as a viable tool for peace, development and wealth creation, said there was a need for governments in Nigeria to change their perspective on art.
“Until we get the government to see that theatre is another means, another way to generate revenue, change their perspective about the art, we will never get it right.”
While noting that Theatre was one of the biggest employers of labour and employment, she explained that some productions such as the SHIM CHUNG: A Legend from the Far East, had over 200 people in its production.
“That’s employment and the revenue that they will generate from that production is amazing. We need to get the government to stand at the forefront of this realizing that theatre can sustain its people and in doing that, you see the peace we want to preach, can also be achieved at the same time because theatre is that rearview mirror in your car that shows you what is behind you.
“Theater for me is a viable tool and until the government sees its relevance, the Nigerian theatre, the Nigerian art will continue to struggle.”
Igori however urged the private sector and individuals to invest in theatre saying, ‘I’m also saying that well-meaning Nigerians who can fund the art should come fund the art. Government at all levels needs to key in and private sectors as well can also push for this.”
Shim Chung: A Legend from the Far East is A neoclassical choreography on the classic Korean folktale of a young lady who sacrifices herself in a desperate attempt to have her blind father’s sight restored. It first premiered live on stage in 1986.
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