Storage and preservation of set pieces and stage properties used in productions are extremely vital in theatre administration as this could drastically reduce the amount spendable in procuring materials in subsequent productions. As laudable as this ability to store and preserve performance materials could be, however,there are so many problems that could make this difficult to achieve. And all this could be due to some reasons as they pertain to individual theatre. These reasons thus elicit some questions among which include: how large is the storage capacity of the theatre structure? How was the theatre structure fundamentally planned for storage and preservation of theatre materials? What is the attitudinal disposition of theatre personnel, including the managers on preservation and storage of materials? What level of training has the theatre managers in the arts of the theatre to enhance meticulous dedication in the realm of storsge of performance materials? What is the quality of the performance materials and their capacity to withstand constant use and vagaries of conditions?
The research is carried out in the premier university in Nigeria, which is the University of Ibadan. This University houses the first theatre structure in the country ( the Arts Theatre ). It is a three hundred capacity theatre.This theatre has recently been named after the renowned dramatist and Nobel laureate,Wole Soyinka. The second is the University of Lagos' theatre. This is a one thousand capacity theatre. It was formerly called ' the Main Auditorium'. It was recently named after the renowned historian, Professor J.F. Ade Ajayi. This second theatre is more sophisticated and modern. The archival materials of the theatres as well as the managers of the structures are consulted. The storage capacity as well as the age of materials in the green rooms, cyclorama and workshop areas are assessed.A structural assessment of the theatre edifice is also carried out.
The research confirms,among other things that the structure of the theatre, no matter how modern and no matter its level of sophistication,the use to which the theatre is designed defines the attitude towards conservation of performance materials. There is no gainsaying the fact that different theatres place priority on what suits them. Again, degradation of materials meant for conservation is dependent on the attitude of personnel and managers. It also underlines the fact that the quality of performance materials plays a major role in preservation while dynamic perception of weather and reactions to it by theatre managers are of vital importance to preservation of performance materials in the theatre. Apart from paucity of fund which militate against effective functioning of theatres in the country, training and moral disposition of artistes and theatre personnel play a large part as well.
The essence of this research resides in its objective assessment of the conservative attitude observable in the two theatres and the knowledge gained from the experience is utilisable by other theatres in institutions where theatre is studied as a course in the country.
Keywords: performance Materials, storage and preservation, theatre properties, attitudinal disposition
Adedokun, R.(2001) Theatre Production Handbook Guide to Selecting and Producing Plays. Ibadan:Stirling-Horden Publishers (Nig.) Ltd
Adedokun,R.A.(2001) Arts Administration in Contemporary Nigeria.Ed.Adedokun, R.A.Lagos: Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization
Adelugba, D.(1990) Theatre Arts Studies:Old and New Challenges, A 1989/1990 Inaugural Lecture. Ibadan: University of Ibadan.
Adelugba,D.(1991) Towards a Theory and Criticism of Theatre Arts, Postgraduate School Interdisciplinary Research Discourse. No.3 Ibadan Wemilore Press.
Akinwale, A.(2001) "The Nigerian Theatre and Economic Viability" in Arts Administration in Contemporary Nigeria.Ed. Adedokun, R.A.Lagos:Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization.
Gbileka, S.E.T.(2005). "The Practice of Literary Theatre and Nigeria Prospects and Constraints" in Nigerian Theatre Journal of the Society of Nigerian Theatre Artistes.Ed. Duro Oni. Volume 8, Number 1
Yerima,A.(2018) Geoffrey Axworthy and the Modern Nigerian Theatre,2nd Geoffrey Axworthy Lecture, Ibiwumi Press
Adebisi Ademakinwa is a lecturer in the Department of Creative Arts. He was a lecturer in the Department of European Studies, University of Ibadan. He also taught in the Department of European Languages, University of Lagos. He is in the field of Performance Studies, Acting and Directing. Among plays recently staged are: Wedlock of the Gods written by Zulu Sofola, Who's Afraid of Solarin, written by Femi Osofisan; Sculptorico, written by Solomon Iguanre.He is currently in the University of Lagos.
Address at Google scholar is Ademakinwa, Adebisi
This paper treats the conservation of materials used in theatrical performances as an existential concern for theatre practitioners, administrators and artistes. Thus, it fundamentally assesses constituents of hindrance to the benefits derivable from recycled and continuous uses of performance materials in theatres.Two of the best University theatres in Nigeria, those of the Universities of Ibadan and Lagos are purposefully assessed structurally and managerially to confirm the fact that the use to which theatres are designed, the training and moral disposition of personnel invariably complement problems associated with funds and these inexorably affect performance materials' conservation in institutional theatres.