MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS: OGUN STATE COUNCIL FOR ARTS AND CULTURE AS A STUDY

Abstract

The quintessence of management practices in theatrical productions is to complement the various production elements in a well thought-out and proficient manner, so that the purpose for establishing an organization can be achieved especially as it affects its theatrical productions. It is believed that one of the most durable contributions of administrative theorist is the study of management. As a set of functions, one of the best ways to understand an organization is to study its administrative apparatus which is its management. Management can be described as the art of achieving the aim of an organization by enlisting capable hands to do the job. It is a process of designing an environment where individuals working together efficiently accomplish selected aims. Extant studies in Theatre Management have focused on the business, facilities, and audience aspects of the theatre with little attention on its productions or outputs. This paper therefore focused on how theatrical productions are determined and managed at the Ogun State Council for Arts and Culture (OGSCAC). Henri Fayol's Administrative Theory was adopted as framework, Archival and ethnographic designs were used. Data were collected through a review of production books, and in depth interview with staff of the council and cast and crew members of the production. Data was subjected to descriptive and thematic analysis. Consequently, findings showed that in management practices at OGSCAC, the Council aligned with five out of her ten objectives of productions, workshop ensemble was the most common type of productions at the Council as opposed to publish scripts, Drama, dance and music performances were common with the troupe but dance was the most common amongst the lot.