Parallel Session
Mediatizing Practical Theatre Education: Challenges and Strategies for Nigerian Institution in Pandemic World
Mr A Akinsiku
Lecturer: Department of Performing Arts and Film Studies
Lead City University
Abiodun AKINSIKU is currently a PhD candidate in the Department of Theatre Arts, University of Ibadan. He is currently a lecturer in the Department of Performing Arts and Film Studies, Lead City University Ibadan where he primarily functions as resident director, performance coordinator and student adviser. He is also an adjunct lecturer in the School of Media and Communications, Pan-Atlantic University, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria. Over the years, his theoretical and practical quests have been locally recognized by earning him institutional based awards as a student in University of Ibadan and also being the artistic director of an award-winning short film titled Econemy (Green Me Film Festival 2016), he creatively lend his voice to the raging destruction of the ecosystem using film. Recently, he has metamorphosed beyond directing into content creation, producing and production management, some of his content created and directed includes Around Naija (Adventurous Reality TV Show), Hello Neighbors (Sitcom), Sis-Ties (Series), Corona Matters (Series), Iwadi, Baba Ni Wura, Ishola Elemure (Feature Film). Some of the most recent stage productions directed by him includes Palmwine Drinkard, Idia, The Audition, Bicycle Wahala, Esu and the Vagabond Minstrels, Many Colours Make the Thunder-King just to mention a few. Abiodun is considerably a budding scholar whose research interest lies around related subjects in performance and media studies, directors and directing in Nollywood.
Abstract
In an era of global change necessitated by a pandemic outbreak of a virus that affects human-human interaction, how can practical theatre education survive? This study deploys mediatization in the discussion of findings which encourages media interventions while excluding face-to-face communication as possible media strategies for teaching practical theatre in Nigerian institution. Practical theatre involves any ‘on-stage’ activity within the stage environment for a preparation towards a performance or restrictively for the purpose of training. The Nigerian Universities Commission in their benchmark for theatre, performance or dramatic arts education fashioned practical participation based on two pedestals i.e. areas of specializations and collaborative practical. While the concentration of the areas of specializations is to have students concentrate on one or two major arts of the theatre in order to develop expertise, the collaborative practical are often group projects for the interactivity of diverse areas in the production of drama as platforms for building interest in one or more areas of the theatre, experiment while practicing in such area, build ethical professional standards while improving in the area. Teachers of practical theatre educations are best cognized as scholar-artiste or artiste-scholar due to demands of the arts of the theatre beyond theory. Hence, practical theatre educators show as well as tell students in communicating knowledge.
This study will qualitatively analyze and recommend ways of mediatizing the practical activities by converting new media platforms as the stage for the training of far away students. Cross-curricular link therefore, need to be encouraged between the theatre discipline and ICT, while considering the following as the units of analyses and how effective they can be in mediatizing the practical activities of theater: Web Portal, Zoom, TikTok. Pre-Blockings, Illustration software.
The conclusion of this study will suggest that challenging the technological prowess of practical theatre educators will help in ensuring continuous and more interactive mediatized practical theatre education.
Keyword: Mediatizing, Practical Theatre, Pandemic