From Pedagogy to Drama Therapy: a Study of Chris Nwamuo’s Theatre

Abstract

Over the years in Nigeria, Theatre has played a significant role in raising the level of Socio-political consciousness of the masses. During the colonial era theatre practitioners had produce plays that were politically uncomfortable to the colonial regimes. Since the dawn of independence the problem of nation building has consumed the consciousness of theatre practitioners. However, this essay takes the position that the philosophy of contemporary theatre is moving from a pedagogic philosophy, which is a theatre that is conscious of raising the awareness of the masses to a deeper understanding of the individual self and a therapeutic solution to daily existence. Chris Nwamuo’s theatre is examined to explore this contemporary concern of Nigerian drama.