Street Theatre as a Tool for Political Awareness Among Urban Youths in Lagos

This study examines street theatre as a mechanism for fostering political awareness among urban youths in Lagos, South West Nigeria. As civic disengagement among young Nigerians continues to grow, creative advocacy tools such as street theatre have emerged as alternative platforms for political communication and mobilisation. The research investigates how street theatre practitioners in Lagos deploy performance to comment on governance failures, electoral participation, and citizens' rights. Using a qualitative approach, data were gathered through interviews with street theatre performers, audience observations at public performance spaces, and document review of performance scripts. The study finds that street theatre effectively reaches diverse urban audiences who are otherwise disengaged from formal political discourse. Performances focusing on electoral malpractice, police brutality, and corruption were found to generate significant audience engagement and discussion. However, the research identifies safety concerns as a major constraint, as street performers occasionally face harassment from security agents and political interests. The study concludes that street theatre is a potent vehicle for political education but requires protective legal frameworks and institutional backing to flourish. It recommends the development of policies that formally recognise street theatre as a protected form of civic expression. Keywords: street theatre, political awareness, youth engagement, Lagos, civic advocacy.