Graham-Douglas said that in order to achieve that objective, they have resolved to put theatre productions at the forefront.
Bikiya Graham-Douglas, a playwright and actress, said on Thursday that the collective vision of the nation’s dramatists is for the Nigerian theatre to get worldwide recognition.
Graham-Douglas told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that in order to achieve that objective they have resolved to put theatre productions at the forefront of the nation’s entertainment.
She stressed that the idea was not for any company to engage in production for the fun of it, but for people to appreciate theatre productions and its potential to generate massive income and employment.
“It is about empowering and encouraging the practitioners to join hands and give us their best in productions."
“We can start telling new stories about us, our country, our cultures, our relations, how we live through productions to change people’s perception,’’ she said.
The playwright told NAN that the vision of the current generation of dramatists is for the Nigerian theatre to grow more than it is today.
“We are now having new generation of people that are telling African stories the way we understand it and how the world has to view us."
“We have seen SARO and Wakaa the musical, productions of Bolanle Austen-Peters, CEO, Terra Kulture, that had gone abroad and Kakadu, by Uche Nwokedi, they were good productions."
“So to see things like that happening in Nigerian theatre, it is very encouraging, it means we can do better."
“It doesn’t have to do with a particular production outfit that will take us some place, it should be a collective responsibility,’’ she said.
Graham-Douglas, however, said that theatre could be more viable if well funded by all tiers of government, and the practitioners entering into partnership with blue chip companies.
“Again, when people believe in what you do and understand it, it is not very difficult to get funding."
“A viable project will get the kind of financial support it deserves."
“If you do not support it; it means you have not seen the potential."
“The corporate organisations that have seen the potential in theatre have taken the initiative to support theatre companies,’’ she said.
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