The first edition of TheatreMania Africa Summit (TAS) was held in Lagos on Friday as part of the preparation for the 2025 edition of the Pan-Africa project tagged TheatreMania Africa Festival (TAF) and Award.
The summit held at Shodex Gardens, Lagos, created an avenue for stakeholders within and outside the theatre and creative art space to discuss pertinent issues concerning the present and future of theatre production in Nigeria and Africa.
In his opening remarks, the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder, TheatreMania Africa Festival (TAF), Mr. Alayande Stephen affirmed that the summit is a build-up for TheatreMania Africa Festival and Awards 2025 to be held in October 2025, adding that Nigeria has won the hosting rights for Theatremania Africa for the next three years.
He explained further that TAS 2024 with the theme: “The future of theatre; embracing innovation and technology in theatre production” is a gathering that marks a transformative chapter for African theatre and creative arts generally.
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He added: “This is not just a theme, but a call to action, a vision for how we as custodians of the African stories, of the African culture can harness the latest innovation to breathe life into our heritage and propel our art for renewal.
“Today, technology is not just a tool, but an enabler of extraordinary possibilities. Digital projections, augmented reality, virtual reality, 3D sound space and even robotics have transformed stages into domestic environment allowing the audience to experience narratives with dynamics and deeply engaging roots,” he explained.
Alayande said, Theatremania Africa Festival is a dream since 2014 and it includes a lot of activities and ideas like having a stage play, having open stage presentations with other theatre groups and lastly with an award that will stand the test of time.
He used the opportunity to call on brands to partner with Theatremania Africa and added that some of the benefits they stand to gain include; enjoying the patronage of media visibility and also the hundreds of people that’ll be a part of the festival and importantly, it will move their brand to the next level.
Speaking at the event, veteran Nollywood actor, Dr. Akin Lewis who has garnered over 51 years of experience in theatre talked about the importance of innovation.
According to him, If not for innovation, theater will have long been dead. “There was always something new and that’s what kept theatre alive.
He said: “In Nigeria, theatre has suffered; we have to create and bring in those innovations. Technology has brought a lot of new things, it is just that the rest of the world is far ahead of us over here and we have to do better,” he stated.
Also, Veteran Nollywood actor, Norbert Young at the event expressed his joy for being part of the event.
He said: “I am always happy when I have to speak at a theatre gathering, especially when we have to talk about drama and stage.
“Theatre in Greek is Theatron and it means seeing place; where people gather to see things. Every act performed in a theatre is called theatre act. Technology has always been there and will keep improving.”
Barrister Olu Adenodi, the Managing Partner, Olu Adenodi & Partners, who is the official legal partner of TheatreMania Africa said that he discovered that TheatreMania has proven to be a tap used to dispense an intense obsession/enthusiasm with theatre.
He added “One of the characteristics of TheatreMania is an unrelenting passion for theater and engagement with fellow enthusiastic minds; also active participation in theatre related events and social media activity to connect with like-minded people.
He also said: “The benefits of theatreMania are many; some are embedded in Community building, cultural engagement, personal growth and one that excites me most, which is the stress relief aspect; which is an enjoyable escape from daily life stress, thus promoting relaxation, entertainment and good mental health.
The Chairman, Guild of Nigeria Dance Practitioners, Lagos State Chapter, Barrister Ugo Obiayo represented by Mr. Lekan Akinruli, in his remarks said the goal set out by TheatreMania to create an avenue for stakeholders within and outside theatre and creative arts to meet and discuss pertinent issues concerning the present and future of theatre productions in Nigeria and Africa has been achieved by the event because according to him, having to come together from far and near for the event will result in proffering solutions to the issues that will be brought up during the summit.
He added that like many who are at the summit, “it is my hope that through the panel discussions and other interactive sessions, there will be an endless flow of knowledge and guided directions towards ensuring that ultimately, the success of theatre productions as an outcome and in relations to its peculiarities in Nigeria and Africa will be nurtured and applied in achieving the best theatre productions practice that will set Nigeria and Africa apart.
The panel session on the topic: ‘The Future of Theatre: Embracing Innovation and Technology in Theatre Productions’ featured Dr. Akin Lewis, Mr. Norbert Young and Mrs, Jacinta MacJob, a Director and Scriptwriter as panelists.
Talking about the journey of theatre and how he sees technology shaping theatre, Dr. Akin Lewis said: “I think the future of Nigerian theater depends on technology; we’ve done a lot of manual and unless we come up with innovations that will be mind-blowing, Africa may not catch up with the rest of the world in terms of innovations in productions.
Mrs. Jacinta on her part said innovation isn’t a stand still thing, it is a movement and it has to start with letting practitioners know if there is a lacuna. And if there is one and when we finally have acknowledged it, what are we doing to change it?
Talking about Technology, Mr. Young said there are no challenges because there has always been innovation in the profession, it is just that the pace will catch up in Africa.
“The pace we’re going is not the same with other countries. We are moving and we will get there.
“As actors and actresses, we need to keep innovating. No matter the level of technology, I don’t see AI replacing the human angle because as actors we’re good at what we do and whenever there are errors, we’re able to cover it up unlike if it’s AI. Technology is just going to enhance theatre and not replace it.
He advised actors and actresses not to lose themselves, “we must be versatile in all aspects of civilization and we must know the place of technology in telling our stories.
“My advice is this, be confident, be knowledgeable, read all the time, upgrade yourself and keep up with all the changes so you can be a master of yourself anywhere in the world.
BV.
