LAGOS – The Director-General, National Troupe of Nigeria (NTN), Martin Adaji, on Wednesday said that paucity of funds was militating against the development of stage plays.
Adaji told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that lack of funds had been discouraging many actors from participating in stage acting.
The situation, he said, had reduced the frequency at which they were put on stage.
“We need corporate sponsorship to revive stage plays so that their fans will be able to watch them as often as they would have loved to,” he said.
Adaji said that artistes had been sending out proposals to corporate bodies and philanthropists to sponsor stage plays but we had been receiving little or no response to that effect.
“To put up one and a half hours of stage play will cost not less than N1 million because you have to consider costumes, stage setting and lightning, pay artistes’ fees and accommodate and feed them,” he said.
Adaji said that the government could not shoulder all those financial responsibilities alone as it had other sectors to develop.
He commended the Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, for trying to see that stage plays were restored in the face of other contingencies.
“We really need the arts sector more than any other sector because that is where you bring about positive changes into the society through creativity.
“Through stage plays, our cultures and music will be better showcased to the rest of the world for them to appreciate what we have and are made of.
“It is through our cultures and music that our tourism potential can be promoted and this will also fetch us huge foreign exchange,” he said.
He stressed that tourism also would boost the country’s image because our plays can be staged in hotels to entertain the lodgers.
“People can display and sell artworks from Nigeria thus showcasing our culture, traditions and music.
“We travel overseas to showcase these indigenous plays when we are invited, it shows that it is an important tool to improve on our image both at home and abroad.
“It will also fetch the practitioners money as these stage plays serve as their sources of income,’’ he said.
He advised stakeholders to contribute to the elevation of stage plays because of their many advantages. (NAN)
- Latest
- Trending
