Assessment of Playwriting as a Career Path Among Theatre Graduates in South East Nigerian Universities

Playwriting is a foundational skill in theatre arts that also connects to screenwriting, broadcast media, and cultural industries, yet its status as a viable career path among theatre graduates in South East Nigeria remains understudied. This study assessed attitudes toward playwriting as a career among final-year theatre arts students at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, and Imo State University, South East Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was employed, with questionnaires administered to 240 final-year students. Items assessed playwriting skills confidence, career intention, perceived industry demand, mentorship access, and knowledge of production pathways. Results showed that 68.3 percent expressed interest in playwriting as a career component but only 22.9 percent intended to pursue it as a primary vocation. Low industry demand perception (cited by 74.6 percent) and inadequate mentorship (cited by 66.7 percent) were the primary barriers. Students at UNN, which had an active departmental theatre season, showed significantly higher playwriting career intention. Female students showed equal interest in playwriting but perceived greater barriers to publication and production. The study concludes that playwriting career interest is present but unsupported by industry infrastructure and mentorship. Recommendations include establishing mentorship networks between established playwrights and students, mandatory script development workshops, and creating university platforms for student script readings and productions to build industry exposure.

Keywords: playwriting, career development, theatre graduates, South East Nigeria, drama education