Performing Arts Entrepreneurship: Building Independent Theatre Businesses in Port Harcourt

This study examines the practice of performing arts entrepreneurship in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, investigating how independent theatre businesses are established, managed, and sustained in the city's cultural economy. Port Harcourt, as a major commercial and cultural hub in South South Nigeria, supports a growing ecosystem of independent theatre companies, event production firms, and performing arts schools. The research analyses the business models, revenue strategies, and market positioning of selected independent theatre enterprises, drawing on interviews with founder-directors, business planning documents, and financial data where available. The study finds that successful theatre entrepreneurs in Port Harcourt demonstrate a blend of artistic vision and business acumen, combining conventional performance programming with event hosting, training workshops, and corporate entertainment services to diversify revenue streams. Access to start-up capital and business development support remains a significant barrier, particularly for early-career practitioners. The research concludes that performing arts entrepreneurship in Port Harcourt requires both creative talent and formal business management competencies. It recommends the development of performing arts enterprise incubation programmes within the state's creative economy policy framework. Keywords: performing arts entrepreneurship, independent theatre, Port Harcourt, cultural economy, arts business.