Theatre Arts can heal wars, hunger, others – Unilorin don

An expert in the thespian arts, Professor Segun Oyeleke Oyewo, has highlighted the therapeutic qualities of Theatre Arts, saying that it “can be one means of healing the tragic situations, such as wars, hunger, and poverty confronting the world”.

Professor Oyewo, who is the Head of the Department (HOD) of Performing and Film Arts, the University of Ilorin, made this submission while delivering the 276th inaugural lecture of the university, titled “Imagine a World without Theatre and its Realities on the Stage and the Environment in Nigeria”.

According to the renowned thespian scholar, whose lecture is the seventh from the department, “a major rationale for theatre in both local, national, and cultural relations is predicated on the firm belief that the theatre can be one means of healing the tragic situations, such as wars, hunger, poverty, confronting the world”.

Quoting a foremost thespian, Goethe, the inaugural lecturer said, “An artless society is a heartless society”, pointing out that the arts in general, and theatre in particular, are instrumental in bringing emotional depth, empathy, and humanity to a society”.

He added that “without art, a society risks becoming soulless and disconnected.”

Professor Oyewo, whose academic journey had been interspersed with practical professional participation, said that theatre can heal mental illness, based on his earlier study titled “Psychometamimesis: Drama and Theatre in the Therapeutic Intervention and Management of Mental Illness.”

He said, “The assumption is that psychometamimesis has a strong potential for treating mental illness because the world of theatre is controlled in its own reaction to disequilibrium created in the universe.”

The inaugural lecture also highlighted the therapeutic nature of theatre for practitioners of Theatre Arts.

According to him, “the use of the physical body to present, perform and enact before an audience promotes the wellness of artistes, because the use of body movement, gesture, and exercise involves muscular movement and burning of fat, among others”.

Professor Oyewo, whose contributions to Theatre cover all areas of specialisation like dance, drama, theatre, music, and the media, as well as social media, also said that theatre “is an essential tool for education, promoting critical thinking, creativity, and emotional intelligence.”

To ensure that humanity continues to benefit from the sundry roles of Theatre, the inaugural lecturer made some recommendations to enhance the Stage, Environment, Arts, and Cultural Management within the thespian industry, saying that “It is unimaginable for theatre to die, because its death will bring great cataclysm to the society.”

Professor Oyewo called for the “establishment of a performing company (by universities) to complement the academic arm and its tight academic schedule”, pointing out that this could emerge around three main concepts: teaching/academic support unit, research and community services, and revenue generation.

He also called for the establishment of finishing schools to enhance the employability of Theatre Arts graduates.

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This, according to him, will serve as a “buffer zone between the classroom and the field after graduation”.

Professor Oyewo also challenged Professional Theatre Associations to “exhibit proper control in enforcement of moral values beneficial to society” and to also “serve as regulatory bodies to address the issue of the liberal arts nature of conventional theatre schools to enhance the engageability and employability of Theatre Arts graduates.”

The don, who is a former visiting Professor at Pennsylvania State University and the foundation Head of the Department of Theatre Arts, University of Africa, Toru-Oma (UAT), also stressed the need to exploit the window of cultural diplomacy offered by Theatre Arts “in exploring links and connections within the African Diaspora, for the preservation of African culture, by signing MoU among theatre departments, organising inter-university cultural and theatre competitions, making African cultural studies compulsory for all categories of students in African university curricular to make the theatre embody the spirit of unity in diversity within the categories of African diasporas.”

Professor Oyewo, who is a former Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP), urged the relevant governmental and non-governmental organisations to “regularly embark on the digitisation of theatre production resource materials and cultural festivals exhibiting them in schools, youth centres and museums of arts and antiquities to promote and transmit culture.”

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