DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE ARTS

This study examines the role of Public Relations (PR) in the management of the academic Theatre of the university of Benin , with a specific focus on it's impact on Audience engagement, ticket sales, and overall Organizational Success. The research was motivated 5 by the need to address the frequent oversight of strategic communication within theatre management, where artistic elements are often priortized. Employing a descriptive survey design, data was collected from a purposive sample of 150 students using a structured questionnaire and analyzed through frequency tables and percentages. The findings reveal that digital PR Strategies, particularly social media content and behind the scenes materials, are Paramount in engaging the modern student audience, whereas traditional methods like flyers are less effective. A strong direct correlation was established between PE efforts and ticket sales, with effective promotion and targeted discounts Significantly influencing purchase decisions . The study concludes that PR is a critical strategic management function essential for building reputation, fostering community, and ensuring the financial viability and long term sustainability of Theatre organizations . It is recommended that theatre management strategically integrate digital PR, professional branding, and community building initiatives into their core operational plans. Keywords: Theatre production, Technology integration, creativity, Artificial intelligence, capacity Building

This study, titled A Comparative Study of Nigerian and Western Media Perspectives on Music Video Vixens, investigates how media systems in different cultural environments construct and communicate meanings around women featured in music videos. The research stems from the observation that, despite increasing global media integration, Nigerian and Western media continue to frame the female image in contrasting ideological and moral terms. The problem identified was the persistent gap in understanding how cultural values and media ideologies shape representations of women in entertainment across different societies. The main objective of the study was to compare the Nigerian and Western media perspectives on music video vixens, examining how each reflects underlying beliefs about gender, morality, and artistic freedom. Specifically, the research sought to determine whether media framing in both contexts reinforces or challenges existing gender stereotypes and cultural boundaries. The study adopted a qualitative and comparative research design, relying on textual and discourse analysis of selected Nigerian and Western media programs. It focused on examining how each media system frames, discusses, and interprets the image of music video vixens within its cultural context. The analysis was supported by theoretical perspectives from media representation, feminism, and postcolonial communication studies. Findings revealed that Western media generally portrays the music video vixen as an emblem of empowerment, self-expression, and artistic creativity, while Nigerian media interprets the same phenomenon within moral and cultural frameworks, often linking it to concerns about decency and traditional values. Despite these differences, both systems were found to reproduce gendered narratives, Western media through commercialization, and Nigerian media through moral regulation. The study concludes that media perspectives are deeply rooted in the cultural and ideological systems that produce them. Western liberalism promotes autonomy but risks objectification, while Nigerian conservatism upholds cultural integrity but limits female agency. It is recommended that Nigerian media adopt more balanced gender discourse, Western media continue ethical evaluation of representation, and both contexts invest in media literacy to foster critical audience understanding. Further comparative research is encouraged to explore how emerging digital media reshape these narratives globally.

Props and set design are fundamental elements of visual storytelling in theatre, film, and television, serving as essential tools for establishing a story's time, place, and cultural context. This study examines the role of props and set design in creating historical authenticity and enhancing audience engagement through effective scenography. It explores how carefully selected and arranged visual elements contribute to narrative development by reinforcing the historical period, geographical setting, and emotional atmosphere of a production. Drawing on the perspectives of Arnold Aronson and Joslin McKinney and Philip Butterworth, the study highlights the significance of scenography as an active storytelling device that shapes audience perception and interpretation. Using a qualitative approach based on the analysis of relevant literature and selected productions, the research demonstrates that props and set design extend beyond decorative functions to become integral components of narrative communication. The findings reveal that historically and culturally appropriate visual elements strengthen realism, enrich character portrayal, and create immersive environments that enable audiences to connect more deeply with the story. The study concludes that effective integration of props and set design is essential for conveying time and place, preserving historical and cultural authenticity, and enhancing the overall impact of theatrical and screen productions.

This study examines the institutional influence of the Edo State Council for Arts and Culture (ESCAC) on contemporary festival programming in Edo State, Nigeria. The research focuses on how administrative structures, funding systems, and decision-making processes shape the organization, content, and resentation of cultural festivals. The study adopts a qualitativeresearch design, combining ethnography and case study approaches. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, participant observation, and document analysis. A purposive sampling technique was used to select participants with relevant experience in festival organization and cultural administration. Findings reveal that festival programming within ESCAC is characterized by centralized decision-making, with limited participation from community stakeholders and traditional authorities. Funding allocation is uneven and often prioritizes festivals with higher visibility and economic potential, particularly in urban areas. Corporate sponsorship plays a significant role in shaping festival content, introducing commercial elements that influence performance structure, costume design, and overall presentation. The study also identifies significant transformations in cultural expression, including the modification of traditional performances and the reduction of ritual elements. While institutional involvement enhances organization, funding, and visibility, it also raises concerns about cultural authenticity and community ownership. The findings further highlight challenges related to youth engagement, infrastructure, and audience participation. The study concludes that institutional intervention has both positive and negative implications for festival sustainability. It recommends a more inclusive and transparent framework that integrates community participation, protects cultural integrity, and balances economic objectives with cultural preservation.

This project examines how Playwriting serves as a tool for cultural exploration in African drama, using Wole Soyinka's Death and the King's Horseman and Zulu Sofola's wedlock of the Gods as its study. The study examines how both playwrights use their plays through the theatre to preserve, express and question African values, beliefs and social system which mirrors the society. This study also draws its focus to some dominant cultural issues such as ritual, gender and power and how these issues reflect the struggles between tradition and change within the society. We explore culture through the lens of Wole Soyinka's Death and the King's Horseman which reflects tension between Yoruba ritual duty and colonial interference showing how misunderstanding of culture can lead to spiritual and communal disruption. While Zulu Sofola's on the other hand, explores the oppression of women in patriarchal society and exposes how cultural customs can be harmful when they deny individual freedom. This study however, seeks to promote culture through drama, preserve cultural identity and also promote cultural awareness. Keywords: Playwriting, Cultural Exploration, Wole Soyinka, Zulu Sofola

This study examines the selection and editing of songs as a means of censoring for radio stations in Benin City, it focuses on how radio stations control music contents to align with the regulatory ethnics that are played by regulatory bodies in Nigeria. It also aligns with the cultural, ethnical ethics. The research highlights rapid increase in vulgar, violent and morally inappropriate lyrics that are used in songs. The findings also reveal how radio stations in Benin city adopts different techniques in the use of cubbing these contents, and some challenges faced are also cited

This research work titled “Resource Management in the Theatre: Recruitment, Retention and Talent Management (A Focus on UNIBEN Theatre)” examines how human resource practices affect the effectiveness and sustainability of theatre production in the University of Benin Theatre Arts Department. The study was carried out to identify the strategies used in recruiting, retaining, and managing talents among theatre practitioners and students, as well as the challenges encountered in the process. The study adopted a survey research design, and data were collected through the use of structured questionnaires administered to 60 respondents consisting of academic staff, technical staff, and students of the department. Both purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used in selecting participants. The data collected were analyzed using simple percentages and presented in tables and charts. Findings revealed that while the UNIBEN Theatre has a fair recruitment process and a supportive learning environment, there are still notable gaps in employee motivation, career development opportunities, and recognition of talent. The study further showed that proper management of human resources plays a vital role in maintaining artistic quality, creativity, and productivity in theatre production. Based on the findings, the study recommends that the department should strengthen its recruitment policies, introduce regular staff and student development programs, and implement effective retention strategies that promote job satisfaction and professional growth.

This research analyses the 2023 UNIBEN staging of Ola Rotimi’s If: A Tragedy of the Ruled as protest theatre to confront systemic poverty in Nigeria. Through TfD’s participatory lens. The production, performed by 200-level students exposed poverty as elite-orchestrated betrayal rather than personal failure, using satire, Pidgin choral resistance, and direct audience address to dramatize healthcare collapse, gendered exploitation, and inflation-driven evictions. Script and observational analysis reveal how the tenement microcosm sparked conscientization, viral discourse, and micro-petitions, while challenging “education ends poverty” myths amid graduate joblessness. Yet resource constraints, urban-academic isolation, and solution deficits limited impact. Marking the first documented Nigerian university use of canonical protest theatre for direct poverty advocacy, findings highlight theatre’s power to forge empathy and agency

Fabrics are far more than clothing especially in indigenous culture and this is same for the Yoruba people. This study investigate the meaning of Aso-oke and Adire Fabrics and it importance to the Yoruba people, showing that that fabric designs are expressions of artistry, the people’s beliefs, custom and tradition. The problem addresses the loss of design, Symbols and motif original meaning over time and globalization. Using a qualitative research approach with interview with seller, dyers and observation, this research project shows how the Aso-oke and Adire Fabrics express cultural identity. The research findings shows that the Aso-oke and Adire Fabrics are far more than just attractive clothing, but are communicators of identity, status, unity and cultural heritage. After all research and findings, this study recommend documentation, cultural education, and government support to ensure the preservation and sustainable transmission of these fabric traditions to future generations.

This study examines the psychological dimensions of acting and their impact on the emotional and mental well-being of Nigerian actors. Acting is approached not merely as an artistic craft but as a psychological complex process involving emotional regulation, empathy, identity negotiation and self-awareness. The research is motivated by the observation that, despite the global recognition of performance psychology, Nigerian actors operate within an emotionally demanding context that lacks institutional psychological support of formal de￾rolling mechanisms. The study adopts a mixed-method design combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews. Emotion regulation theory and rule theory provided the theoretical framework. The research concluded that acting in Nigeria constitutes a form of substantive emotional labor requiring both artistic skill and psychological resilience. While Nigerian actors demonstrate remarkable adaptability, the lack of training for psychological recovery exposes them to long￾term emotional strain. The study recommends the integration of psychological literacy, the rolling practices and counselling support into Nigerian acting curricular and production environment,the research contribute to a broader understanding of acting as both a creative and psychological negotiation between self and character