The Professional Playwright’s Process: Script Development and Production Collaboration in Contemporary Nigerian Theatre

This study investigates the professional process of script development and production collaboration among contemporary Nigerian playwrights, examining how dramatists navigate the journey from initial concept to staged production. Playwriting occupies a distinct professional niche within the Nigerian theatre ecology, yet the collaborative and institutional dimensions of the playwright's craft have received limited systematic documentation. The research examines how playwrights in Lagos, Enugu, and Abuja develop their scripts, engage with dramaturgical feedback, and collaborate with directors, actors, and producers during the staging process. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with twelve professional playwrights and six directors, complemented by review of draft scripts and rehearsal notes where available. The study finds that most Nigerian playwrights operate without access to formal dramaturgical support, developing their scripts largely through self-revision and informal peer feedback. Director-playwright collaboration is often characterised by tension around creative authority, particularly when directors substantially alter script content during rehearsal. The research concludes that the professional playwright's process in Nigeria is shaped by institutional gaps that limit dramaturgical development and reduce the quality of final productions. Keywords: playwriting, script development, playwright-director collaboration, Nigerian theatre, dramaturgy.