Nigerian playwrights in search of change: Julie Okoh, Alex Asigbo, Tracie Utoh-Ezeajugh and Emmanuel Emasealu Examined

Abstract

The concept of change has been described as a constant phenomenon that is inevitable in any given society. Although change can be from negative to  positive dimension or positive to negative dimension depending on the management approach and the intension of the change agent(s). The clamour  for change from atavistic cultural practices to a friendlier and development driven culture; dictatorial leadership to a democratic/ people oriented  leadership; corrupt and tribal/ethnic attitude of citizens to accountability and transparent citizens’ orientation; marginalization to collective bargaining  and resource control amongst others have preoccupied the pages of different plays of Nigerian playwrights. From the plays of established playwrights  such as Wole Soyinka, emi Osofisan, Ahmed Yerima to even the plays of amateur voices yet to be exposed by critics, a lot on positive change for a well-developed and better Nigerian appears not to have yielded the desired target due to several factors. Some of these factors include; poor reading attitude  of Nigerian citizens and leaders who are expected to implement the concepts in these plays, poor perception of the citizens on the potentials of theatre  and drama and inability of some of these plays to meet the audience through performance. This study applies the content analysis method to examine  the change mantra in selected plays of Julie Okoh, Alex Asigbo, Tracie Utoh-Ezeajugh and Emmanuel Emasealu.