Examining the Research Gap in Eco-Theatre and Environmental Awareness in Nigerian Drama Studies

Eco-theatre uses performance to engage audiences with ecological crisis and environmental responsibility, yet this growing global field has received minimal attention in Nigerian drama scholarship despite the country's acute environmental challenges. This study examined the research gap in eco-theatre and environmental awareness within Nigerian drama studies through systematic review and primary research. A systematic scoping review of eleven databases identified only 2 publications from 2019 to 2024 applying eco-theatre frameworks to Nigerian performance, compared to a rapidly growing global literature. Original primary research conducted a content analysis of 20 Nigerian plays produced between 2018 and 2023 for environmental themes, and interviewed 15 Nigerian playwrights and directors about their engagement with ecological subject matter. Content analysis revealed that environmental themes appeared in 9 of 20 plays, primarily in works from the Niger Delta addressing oil pollution. Only 2 plays explicitly engaged with climate change as a central concern. Eco-theatre as a conscious aesthetic framework was not referenced by any of 15 interviewed practitioners. The Niger Delta's ecological crisis generated the richest environmental performance tradition, yet this tradition is rarely theorised within eco-theatre frameworks. The study identifies three research priorities and proposes an original Nigerian Eco-Performance Studies Framework integrating local ecological contexts. Recommendations include dedicated eco-theatre workshops for Nigerian playwrights, university course units in eco-performance studies, and NCAC commissioning eco-themed national drama competitions.

Keywords: eco-theatre, environmental performance, Nigerian drama, ecological theatre, research gap