21st century play directing in a virtual space: Prospects and challenges

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of digital technologies across Africa, particularly in Nigeria, compelling theatre practitioners to re-evaluate traditional modes of play production. Physical co-presence, long considered indispensable to directing, was disrupted by public health restrictions, prompting the exploration of virtual alternatives. This paper examines video conferencing as a viable and enduring option for 21st-century play directing, assessing its prospects and challenges within virtual space. Adopting a qualitative research design complemented by descriptive and analytical methods, the study draws primary data from interviews and participant observation of virtual rehearsals, while secondary data are derived from books, journals, and digital sources. The analysis is framed by Marshall McLuhan’s Technological Determinism Theory (1964), which posits that media technologies shape human communication and social structures. Findings indicate that virtual platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet create new modes of director–actor engagement, enabling flexible scheduling, transnational collaboration, and integration of multimedia elements often constrained by physical staging. However, the study also identifies challenges including digital fatigue, latency, loss of embodied immediacy, and unequal access to stable internet infrastructure. The paper concludes that technology does not merely replicate physical directing but expands creative possibilities by fostering hybrid forms of performance that blend live and mediated elements. It recommends deliberate investment in digital literacy, technical infrastructure, and pedagogical frameworks to mainstream virtual directing in theatre training and professional practice across Nigeria and beyond.