E-culture, contemporary theatre for development practice and intersection performance technique option: Radical mediamorphorsis for effective development communication

Abstract

TfD is the acronym for Theatre for Development – a development practice that utilises performance as a participatory tool in awakening the consciousness of the disadvantaged in the society for real action in finding solution to their problems. The importance of TfD, therefore, as a vital Development Communication tool cannot be overemphasised. However, the demands of contemporary TfD practice in an era of electronic culture inundated with varying degrees of challenges ranging from constraints in time and distance, inadequate availability of human resources and production facilities among other socio-economic and technological challenges now transcend solo stage performances alone. Although the stage has incontrovertibly remained the ‘mother’ performance medium as evidently appropriated in TfD; change and transformation of the society has, however, necessitated the expedient digitilisation and aligning of TfD communication with the electronic media for the animator, facilitator, and practitioner to interact at a larger scale to be able to make meaningful impact through the process of mass communication. The discourse is an attempt at reinforcing the evolution of Intersection Performance TfD Theory – Intersection Performance Technique [IPT] – birthed to offer a new performance approach in TfD practice aimed at a more effective realisation of performance objectives, to make it relevant to the realities of our time. IPT, therefore, is a radicalising development communication approach which emphasises a set of techniques that utilise potentials of other genres and media apart from the stage to put the animators' message across. This technique which utilises modern technology facilities is designed to enhance TfD performances in order to effectively bring issues in performance and development communication contexts to the clarity of participating audiences; as well as facilitate the realisation of the overall goals of TfD initiatives, as a problem solving enterprise.