Environmental Theatre and Climate Change Awareness in University Communities in Bauchi State

This study examines the use of environmental theatre as a strategy for raising climate change awareness in university communities in Bauchi State, North East Nigeria. Environmental theatre employs performance as an advocacy tool to communicate ecological issues, inspire attitudinal change, and mobilise community action. The research investigates how student-led and NGO-facilitated environmental theatre productions have engaged university students and surrounding communities on the subject of deforestation, desertification, and climate adaptation. A descriptive design was adopted, with questionnaires administered to students who attended environmental theatre events at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University and selected community members. Focus group discussions and performance observations provided qualitative depth. The study finds that environmental theatre successfully translated complex climate science into emotionally accessible dramatic narratives, leading to increased awareness and self-reported intention to adopt pro-environmental behaviours. However, the research identifies the limited frequency of such performances as a barrier to sustained behaviour change. The study concludes that environmental theatre is a valuable instrument of climate advocacy in university settings. It recommends that student theatre associations partner with environmental agencies to institutionalise annual environmental drama events. Keywords: environmental theatre, climate change, university communities, Bauchi State, eco-advocacy.