Why More Youths Are Taking To Theatre Arts

Young people of this generation in Nigeria want to be popular and admired as stars and celebrities in their own rights, like those in Hollywood and Nollywood.
It is, therefore not surprising that so many youths are currently pursuing careers in Theatre Arts in universities across the country.
Miss Felicia Felix, second year pioneer Theatre Arts student of Rivers State University said in an interview after a session of dance drama practicals at the university Amphitheartre that apart from her likeness of the course, she is motivated by the celebrity status that comes with known artistes.
She added that, she ventured into Theartre Arts because she wants to be admired and popular like the actress, Omotola Jalade, who she described as her role model.
As a youth, Theatre Arts would help give self confidence, create social awareness and help solve societal problems especially through the performance of dance drama.
Miss Felix, who is a group director in her class added that, people know Theatre Arts with University of Port Harcourt but recently Rivers State University Theatre Arts was all over the internet through bloggers, social media and the rest of them because of the induction of our year one students which was a “show stopper” in town, she said “Theatre Arts in a way is creating awareness to societal problems. We are practising a dance drama on COVID-19 preventive measures. You know COVID-19 is still around the corner. We are creating awareness that people should adhere to the preventive measures such as washing of hands, wearing face masks, using of hand sanitizers and avoiding crowded places. Other groups are working on black soot, drug abuse and food scarcity in the society”.
Mr Godsdoing Chinemerem Okor, second year student and President, Theatre and Film Studies Students Association, Rivers State University, said that young minds like them want to be happy and express their emotions through singing and acting. Also, most of the youths want to be talked about and feel important like David Adedeji Adeleke (Davido) that is why more youths are into theatre studies.
For him, Davido is his role model in the area of singing and Zubby Micheal, a Nollywood actor.
Okor also said that though Rivers State University. Theatre department is new, the students are putting in their best to make their name in the society.
Like, the induction recently was unique, and got the attention of most persons in Nigeria, “We used costumes, hair styles and innovations that our contemporary have not used before which stood us out.
“We had performed for the Rivers State Governor at different occasions, at Obi Wali Centre, we performed with University of Port Harcourt theatre students and ours was outstanding to the extent that the governor asked for a repeat performance. We had also performed at Government House, at Ahoada, for the Governor’s wife’s father’s 80th birthday, also at the Senate building for the Vice Chancellor and several performances at the University Amphitheatre” he said.
Miss Destiny Nwala, also a second year student said that theatre is like a moving trend in our society today because people want to relax their nerves after a day’s work so all the other disciplines like medicine, engineering and so forth still end up to theatre.
She added that “most of our youths are undergoing depression mostly because of family pressure. Many young people have calling in singing and acting and Theatre is the way out, also, most of us want to be trending or be famuos in social media and Theatre is one of the money making areas in Nigeria now.
My role model is Destiny Etico because I like her style of acting, that’s the “rugged” part . Also, Mercy Chinwo, the gospel artiste. I hope to come out with a gospel album like hers in the future.
She added that Theatre Arts in Rivers State University is upcoming with a unique standard. We were privileged to attend the Arts Festival at Abia State University at Uturu, last year, 2021 for the first time. We went as observers because we were not licensed to perform because we had not been inducted due to COVID 19 issues in 2020, but before the end of the festival, we were asked to perform for five to seven minutes and the audience was stunned and impressed at our level of performance. We were asked to host this year’s festival but did not accept because of finance. I see a bright future for RSU Theatre and may be stronger than UNIPORT in all aspect of Theatre if those behind us continue with this momentum”.
Theatre Arts in general helps young people to understand how to appraise situations and think outside the box. This would help them to be more confident when faced with unfamiliar situations.
It is also a creative way of learning, allowing youths to view the world around them in new ways.
Theatre is a collaboration of different players and good for combination of creative ideas and abilities of all participants to come out best in their individual roles. This requires all those taking part to engage in discussions, feedback, rehearsing and finally the performance.
Also, the elements of play, humour and laughter to those taking part improves motivation and reduces stress of the mind. This helps to express emotions and encourage these young ones to understand and deal with similar feelings they may be experiencing.

By: Ibinabo Ogolo