ABSTRACT
The theatre and its audience are two entities that are
highly symbiotic, this means one cannot do without the other. For an audience
to exist, there has to be a performance which is performed in the theatre and
on the other hand, for a theatre to be active, there has to be an audience who
will consume the performance that has been prepared and performed before them.
Private theatres in Calabar Metropolis thrive efficiently if they receive an
encourageable amount of audience patronage they seek. However over the years,
there had been a decline in audience patronage especially as regarding private
theatres. This eventually leads to the fall in financial gains of the theatre
and in the long run, the folding of the private theatre. If this continues,
there will be a great loss in theatre practice in Calabar Metropolis because
private theatres are supplements that augment the state owned theatre organizations.
This research aims at investigating the reasons why there is a low patronage in
private theatres. During the course of this survey, a total of fifty (50)
questionnaires were distributed to theatre goers and enthusiasts so as to
envisage their perspectives, opinions and ideas. The James Ene Henshaw
Foundation and Tholakele production are going to be the two focal points of
this study. This survey will embed the challenges and the situations, the
standard of production, and the general poor audience culture, the latter being
the most threatening challenge with the others being plausible. I recommend
that private theatres in Calabar metropolis should put in their absolute best
when staging a performance so as to attract audience members. The audience are almost insatiable, diminishing
that insatiable nature will involve series of thrilling shows and performances.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page
i
Certification
ii
Dedication
iii
Abstract
iv
Table of Contents
v
List of Tables viii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
to the Study
1
1.2 Statement of
the Problem
3
1.3 Objectives
of the Study
4
1.4 Research
Questions 5
1.5 Significance
of the Study
5
1.6 Delimitation
of the Study
6
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 The Theatre
Audience
7
2.2 Private
Theatre Practice in Nigeria
13
2.3 Theoretical
Framework
18
2.5 Summary of
Literature Review
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research
Design
21
3.2 Study
Area
21
3.3 Method of
Data Collection 22
3.4 Population
and Sampling
22
3.5 Method of
Data Analysis
23
3.6
Administration of Instrument
23
3.7 Reliability
and Validation of Instruments 24
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATIONS
4.1 Data
Analysis
25
4.2
Findings
80
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary of
Findings 81
5.2
Conclusion
83
5.3
Recommendations 83
WORKS CITED
APPENDIX