COMMUNITY CHILDREN'S THEATRE AS A STIMULUS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 21ST CENTURY NIGERIAN CHILD: THE IGBINEDION UNIVERSITY OKADA SATURDAY PLAYHOUSE IN FOCUS

Abstract

The twenty-first century Nigerian child is surrounded by global socio-political and economic challenges which require adequate psychological and educational preparations to surmount. The computerized jet age in which she finds herself is filled with as many opportunities as there are challenges; challenges of demolishing the superstructure of moral decadence, poverty and falling standards of education, built by succeeding generations. This paper posits that community theatre, which is participatory in nature, can be used not only for socialization but as an effective tool for the general development of the twenty-first century child. By using the Saturday Playhouse of Igbinedion University, Okada, as paradigm, the paper argues that the basic principles of community theatre are applicable to children's theatre, with substantial benefits to the community children involved. The paper further demonstrates how this community children's theatre is contributing to the general development of young children in Okada community. By replicating this practice across the country, A sustainable national programme of development for the contemporary Nigerian children could readily be evolved.