Enhancing Theatre Patronage in Nigeria Through Public Relations- A Case Study of Abuja Council of Arts And Council

ABSTRACT 

Theatre performances in Nigeria have experienced a lot of setbacks in the recent past. The choice for this particular topic is not farfetched. [t is simply an atte1npt to analyse the factors responsible for the low popularity of live theatre performance in Nigeria today. Public Relations as a medium of communication has a significant role 111 mobilizing prospective theatre patrons. The term Public Relations in the context of this work covers the role of town criers, village heads, opinion leaders as well as gyration, carnivals, flyers, handbills, house bills and billboards. Other forms are Radio, Television, Newspapers, and Magazines as media of mass audience mobilization. Theatre in this work comprises of the numerous African traditional festivals found in every community. Also included are educational theatres found today in some higher institutions in the country and professional theatre companies, located 111 either Arts Councils or major towns. The methodology used are manifold, and these include written materials, questionnaires administration, oral interviews and personal observations etc. The factors responsible for the decline in theatre patronage include availability/affordability of new media technology and state of insecurity in the country, dearth of viable theatre companies and poor marketing strategies of theatrical products among others