Women in the theatre have come a long way. From the early years when men played women’s roles on stage, to when the father of Nigerian travel theatre Hubert Ogunde married and cast his wives in his plays for their own social and financial security.
Today, there are not only female actors but women directors, producers and entrepreneurs in the industry. In spite of that, women in Nigeria’s performing arts industry are yet to receive their due wreaths for their contributions to the theatre.
So, at the 2023 edition of the World Theatre Day (WTD), organized by Arojah Royal Theatre (ART) in collaboration with the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Practitioners (NANTAP) women in the performing arts space spoke against their objectification, labeling, and the need to pen more aspiring female characters on-stage and the use of theatre to drive women’s participation in politics.