Playwriting

About the Book

Summary • The Nigerian theatre milieu is trapped in a cobweb of strangulating strings. Little wonder, therefore, that its growth has been impaired over the years. • The numerous multi-tribal thrusts in Nigeria disallow the full growth and development of theatre forms and trends. • The university and other degree-awarding institutions engaged in theatre studies, have not carved out uniquely distinguishing styles that can be said to be theirs. • The Nigerian theatre makers themselves are not style-driven and technique-creating. An ideal repertory of form can hardly be identified with them in a sustainable manner. • The National Theatre set up as a symbol of the nation's cultural pride, now stands as a totem for the nation's creative shame; • The state-owned Cultural Centre Boards are devoid of objectives in focused cultural promotions. • Many graduates of the arts-prefer other creative businesses. A few die-hards are bedeviled by frustrating dilemmas as businessmen refuse to patronise theatre because they consider it a wasteful venture, while international agencies shun it because of its profit-making outlook.

About the Author

Effiong Johnson, Ph.D, Professor (Directing & Aesthetics), has been Head, Theatre Arts department, two times Vice-Dean, Faculty of Arts, Dean, Student Affairs, Member, Governing Council, Member Management and Senate - all of the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, South South. A seasoned scholar, playwright, director, actor, poet and critic, he studied theatre and communication in the Universities of Calabar and Ibadan respectively, and has twenty-six years teaching experience in theatre and communication studies, spanning four Universities. Prof. Johnson has pioneered the writing of professional texts in theatre studies including; Playwriting: The Fundamentals (2000), Play Production Processes (2001), Visions Towards a Mission: The Art of Interpretative Directing (2003), Aesthetics: The Dialectics and Theatrics Theatre and Communication (2004), and edited The Art of Acting: A Student friendly Anthology (2005), and Playwriting: The Fundamentals Revised Edition (2010). In the area of creative writing, his works include Generous Donors (1997), The Fight Has Just Begun (2000), Frogs At Noon (2001), Not Without Bones (2001) and The Stolen Manuscripts (2001). This professor also has many articles in learned journals, Published Production Memoirs and Video Productions. A member of many professional bodies including the Society of Nigeria Theatre Artists (SONTA) where he once served as PRO and Editorial Board Member. Prof. Johnson is widely traveled to Europe and America from where he draws creati-professional challenges for the African theatre type. He is married to Dr. Ofonime Johnson and they have four children.