PRIVATE THEATRE AND AUDIENCE PATRONAGE IN CALABAR METROPOLIS

ABSTRACT

The theatre and its audience are two entities that are highly symbiotic, this means one cannot do without the other. For an audience to exist, there has to be a performance which is performed in the theatre and on the other hand, for a theatre to be active, there has to be an audience who will consume the performance that has been prepared and performed before them. Private theatres in Calabar Metropolis thrive efficiently if they receive an encourageable amount of audience patronage they seek. However over the years, there had been a decline in audience patronage especially as regarding private theatres. This eventually leads to the fall in financial gains of the theatre and in the long run, the folding of the private theatre. If this continues, there will be a great loss in theatre practice in Calabar Metropolis because private theatres are supplements that augment the state owned theatre organizations. This research aims at investigating the reasons why there is a low patronage in private theatres. During the course of this survey, a total of fifty (50) questionnaires were distributed to theatre goers and enthusiasts so as to envisage their perspectives, opinions and ideas. The James Ene Henshaw Foundation and Tholakele production are going to be the two focal points of this study. This survey will embed the challenges and the situations, the standard of production, and the general poor audience culture, the latter being the most threatening challenge with the others being plausible. I recommend that private theatres in Calabar metropolis should put in their absolute best when staging a performance so as to attract audience members. The  audience are almost insatiable, diminishing that insatiable nature will involve series of thrilling shows and performances.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page                                                                                                        i

Certification                                                                                                    ii

Dedication                                                                                                      iii

Abstract                                                                                                          iv        

Table of Contents                                                                                           v

List of Tables                                                                                                  viii

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the Study                                                                   1

1.2       Statement of the Problem                                                                   3

1.3       Objectives of the Study                                                                      4

1.4       Research Questions                                                                             5

1.5       Significance of the Study                                                                   5

1.6       Delimitation of the Study                                                                   6

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1       The Theatre Audience                                                                         7

2.2       Private Theatre Practice in Nigeria                                                     13

2.3       Theoretical Framework                                                                       18

2.5       Summary of Literature Review                                                         

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1       Research Design                                                                                 21

3.2       Study Area                                                                                          21

3.3       Method of Data Collection                                                                 22

3.4       Population and Sampling                                                                    22

3.5       Method of Data Analysis                                                                   23

3.6       Administration of Instrument                                                             23

3.7       Reliability and Validation of Instruments                                          24

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATIONS

4.1       Data Analysis                                                                                      25

4.2       Findings                                                                                              80                                                                                           

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1       Summary of Findings                                                                                     81

5.2       Conclusion                                                                                          83

5.3       Recommendations                                                                              83

WORKS CITED

APPENDIX