A Survey of Theatre Practice and Audience Development in Abuja, FCT

Live theatre practice in Abuja occupies a distinctive position as both a cultural capital's artistic showcase and a commercially challenging enterprise dependent on audience development, and documenting the current landscape of theatrical production and audience engagement in the FCT provides important data for arts policy. This study surveyed theatre practice and audience development strategies in Abuja Municipal Area Council and Garki District, FCT. A descriptive survey design was employed with structured questionnaires administered to 18 theatre practitioners from 10 active theatre groups and interviews with 6 arts venue managers. A separate audience survey was conducted with 120 theatre attendees at three FCT venues. Results showed a diverse theatre sector comprising community theatre, children's theatre, corporate entertainment, and experimental performance. Ticket-buying audience attendance averaged 54 per performance across surveyed venues. Social media marketing was the dominant audience development strategy for 83.3 percent of groups. School engagement programmes were maintained by 33.3 percent of theatre companies, representing the most systematic audience development approach observed. Corporate sponsorship was received by 44.4 percent of groups, representing an important funding source. Playwriting in indigenous Nigerian languages was practised by only 11.1 percent of groups. Audience surveys identified affordability and awareness as the primary attendance barriers. The study recommends a FCT theatre support fund, school-theatre partnership programmes, and audience development training for theatre practitioners.

Keywords: theatre practice, audience development, Abuja, FCT, performing arts management