Arts
July 30, 2013 The Chief Executive Officer, Beeta Universal Art Foundation (BUAF), Bikiya Graham-Douglas, called on stakeholders for more collaborations in live theatre, performances to enable more production.
Graham-Douglas said that ``there is need for collaboration for live theatre industry so that it can thrive.
``Through partnership we can sustain it; we can't run away from collaboration. No man is an island.
``My company is focused on rejuvenating live theatre in Nigeria. We can't do it alone; so we need to work together.
``When people get together and have a production, they will see how their collaboration with each other has move things up over time.
``We must collaborate with ourselves to promote our industry, no one is going to do it for us; we have to do it by ourselves,” she said.
The CEO also an actress said that, ``we aim to create opportunities for people to access theatre performances and have cultures embedded in their minds, alongside preserving our cultural heritage through the arts.
``We craft performances to educate, enlighten and entertain, and also enrich our knowledge alongside propelling our minds to root long lasting memories of where we come from.
``We want to as well generate podiums for individuals to explore their talents in the arts.
``The truth about it is that we have to commend the stage performers in Nigerian because they refused to give up even with the environment working against them,” she said.
Graham-Douglas noted that theatre companies are coming up now, and every other week there is a stage production in Lagos, even in Abuja.
``There are other organisation that are making sure that there are more stage productions available”.
She stressed that the live theatre is not where it need to be, but ``I think it is very encouraging. We will continue to work hard to get there”.
``We will continue to perform, and hopefully the people will recognized it as viable then there will be a change. We have seen positive response,” she added.
She however said that, ``it is easier for you to reach your audience in film because you can be in your seating room and watch it; but for stage, you have to go out to be able to access it.
``One of our major problems with stages is that we do not have the enabling environment.
``Even if you want to put a production on stage, how many venues do we have? Even if you want to go to these venues, they are very expensive. How many people can afford it?
``Terra Kulture has been one of the major promoters of Nigerian theatre; we must commend them for that because they have given so many theatre practitioners a platform.
“Though it is not as big as we want it to be, but it is getting there, she said.
Graham-Douglas noted that her company has been doing enough to contribute to the growth of the sector.
``This is our fourth year BAUF had been in existence and ``we have had about 15 productions and different training programmes.
``We did a symposium with “Fella on Broadway” here in Nigerian for Theatre practitioners.
``We also organised a “Night of Music and Letters” where we tried to combine theatre, music and reading,” she said.
The actress also said that they are embarking on doing capacity building and stage productions for the industry and they are collaborating with other organization that is focused on training.
``It is in line with our focus at BUAF to continue to project Theatre and create opportunities where Theatre is seen as a liable entity”.
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