MAKINDE Adeniran, Chairman, National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practioners (NANTAP), Lagos State chapter, on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to develop policies that would facilitate the growth of theatre in the country.

Adeniran told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that policy making was key to sustainability in the development of theatre arts.

“Policy is key to the development of theatre in Nigeria. There are certain policies that can engineer and change the business of theatre forever.

“It is after the right policies have been laid down that money can now play the major role of building a favourable environment to enhance the development of the industry.

“Policy comes before business making and business making is what draws money,” he said.

The chairman said that the government could study the activities of theatre in the environment, to give an overview in making policies that would create a good business environment.

“Policies are made to direct development in certain sectors; for example, we lack a pricing structure for services rendered in the theatre sector.

“This is disadvantageous to the growth of theatre because producers are at liberty to take advantage of thespians since there is no guide to determine the appropriate amount to be paid.

“However, such a policy can serve as a controlling factor that guides the welfare of theatre arts practitioners which will protect the unnecessary exploitation of the practitioners,” he said.

Adeniran added that such policies would serve as incentive to encourage practitioners to operate at peak performance and produce quality innovation which would further facilitate development of the arts.

The chairman commended the Lagos State Government’s effort in making plans to provide additional theatres in strategic places of the state for the promotion of arts and culture.

“We appeal to the government not to relent in its effort in providing infrastructure but to also put things in place to train those who would work in the infrastructure.

“If we have the infrastructure and people are not well trained, they will eventually rubbish the infrastructure.

“So, capacity-building of individual artistes is paramount in ensuring that investment made in the provision of infrastructure achieves its full purpose,” he said.

Adeniran advised stakeholders of the industry to continue to talk about theatre development to help the government shape it’s policies and engage it critically for a meaningful outcome. (NAN)

– Jun 5, 2018 @ 13:55 GMT |