STAGE MANAGEMENT PRACTICE IN THE AKWA IBOM STATE COUNCIL FOR ARTS AND CULTURE

1.1 Introduction

Stage management practice is the painstaking preparation, setting up, and directing of multiple people's joint endeavours to fulfill the objectives of the theatre (Awodiya, 2001). The primary objectives of theatre management are to ensure that the material and human resources of the theatre are effectively integrated to produce a standard performance and to design methods that have been scientifically verified for attracting adequate financing and attendance. Therefore, evaluating the challenges related to theatre management in Nigeria is the primary objective of this study. Following a review of these problems, suggestions will be provided for enhancing Nigerian theatrical management practices. The bulk of the resources will come from reading, watching, experiencing, and speaking with theatre management experts in Nigeria.

This chapter will address the background information that motivated this study, the challenges that prompted it, its aim, and its objectives as a preface to subsequent sections of the study. Additional factors include the study's significance, scope, limitations, research questions and hypotheses, and the definition of technical terms.

1.2 Background of Study

Stage management has been a concept in theatre since the very beginning. It is present for the benefit of the finished work, the show, or the public performance. It contributes as much as it can to a theatrical production's artistic success in all of its decisions, acts, and procedures. As a result, stage management disparages the word management, referring to a crucial task that involves organizing individual effort in order to achieve collective goals on stage. The goal of stage management is to establish a setting where actors may work together to achieve common objectives.

All non-creative support duties needed to present plays and artistic programming in venues such as theatres, communities, and educational institutions are included in the field of theatre management. It comes under the general heading of arts management, which frequently covers the production, planning, fundraising, managing, marketing, and promotion of theatrical and other creative events. in the past, those who designed and organised theatrical plays were not often referred to as arts managers. These people had a diverse range of backgrounds and, in general, have a knack for getting money and finishing projects, whether this was due to their passion in the arts, their employment as artists, or their simple drive to make money.

In this context, the term "stage" refers to a location for a performance rather than a raised platform above the floor of the auditorium, as is more common knowledge. This is appropriate given the importance of a well-managed stage to the success of the play. It might be argued that, other from making sure the stage is managed properly, there is no compromise or shortcut to a good production.

In modern times, however, as specialisation increases, an increasing number of graduate-level arts administrators assume positions and carry out extremely specialised tasks in major metropolitan performing arts complexes, art museums, repertory theatre companies, and other such enterprises. They may design pamphlets, manage advertising campaigns, or enlist volunteers in order to convey the objectives and demands of an arts organisation to those who could become potential supporters, subscribers, or buyers. The individuals in charge of actual events include facility managers, box office supervisors, organisers of fundraising dinners and audience receptions, stage managers and their assistants, and managers in charge of the accommodation, transportation, and other needs of the performers.

Today's stage managers are extremely sophisticated and technically proficient. The Greek and Elizabethan systems and tactics of managing all levels of concern are in opposition to it. in the process of facilitating communication between the worlds of the actors and the audiences, stage management must gratify, inspire, motivate, and act as a bride. In this study, however, stage management will be investigated from both an organisational and a life performance standpoint by looking at stage management practices at the Akwa Ibom State Council for Arts and Culture.

1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that Stage management is a theatrical organization's biggest obstacle when putting on live shows. This is due to the fact that a production's ability to successfully handle the cast members' affairs both on and off stage is essential to the success of the show. Nonetheless, as a managerial art, several philosophies are utilized, particularly in theatrical productions of the twenty-first century. This has two sides to it. Successful implementation improves the stage show, while a practice that lacks professionalism can lead to the death of the show.

The purpose of this study is to address the shortcomings in the stage management skills of the stage managers at the (AKS) Council for Arts and Culture, with the goal of improving their performance management.

1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to examine the Stage Management Practice in the Akwa Ibom State Council for Arts and Culture. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To evaluate the theatre stage management practice in the area under study;
2. To assess the relevance of stage management practice; and
3. To determine the challenge encountered in the course of setting up live performances among theatre stage management organization.

1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• How efficient is theatre management in the area under study?
• What is the relevance of theatre management?
• What is the challenge encountered in the course of setting up live performances among theatre stage management organization?

1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: There are no significant challenge encountered in the course of setting up live performances among theatre stage management organization
• H1: There are significant challenge encountered in the course of setting up live performances among theatre stage management organization

1.7 Justification / Significance of Study

The importance of this study demonstrated how stage management coordinates the cast's actions both backstage and on stage using a range of managerial strategies to guarantee a strong performance. The goal of the present research is to analyze the stage management strategies employed by the Akwa Ibom State Council for Arts and Culture, with a focus on the interactions between the stage manager and each production's cast and crew.

As a result, this work suggests that art organizations use the management strategy in this project. Furthermore, researchers will greatly benefit from this study, and non-researchers might utilize it to further their own research endeavours. This work advances knowledge and may function as a model for future research.

1.8 Scope of Study

The scope of the research is focused on the Stage Management Practice in the Akwa Ibom State Council for Arts and Culture. The study area was chosen due to the fact that is a well-established theatre with a management structure that restricts the scope of the investigation.

1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, there were some problems encountered which stood as limitations to the research work. Some of the limitations include:

1. Time Constraint:The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Establishment Policies:Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this research work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this establishment to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
3. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
4. Initial Cooperation Delay from Respondents: A particular limitation of this work came as a result of the respondent refusal to offer their cooperation at the initial time they were contacted. This contributed in making the success of this research study difficult.

1.10 Definition of Terms

Theatre Management:

It refers to the tasks required to present plays and creative programmes in professional, communal, and educational contexts. It falls under the broad category of arts management, which often include staging and other artistic events' creation, planning, financing, managing, marketing, and advertising. It was not customary in the past to refer to those who created and planned theatre productions as arts managers.