Abuja to host Africa’s first playback theatre festival

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Nigeria will host Africa’s first-ever joint global festival for Improvisational Theatre and Playback Theatre practitioners as Abuja prepares to welcome performers, educators, humanitarian workers and storytellers from across the world for a week-long cultural gathering in June.

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The festival, tagged #MeetInNigeria, is scheduled to hold from June 21 to 27 in the Federal Capital Territory, bringing together participants from North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa.

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Organisers said the event marks the first time both global Improvisational and Playback Theatre communities will converge on the African continent for a combined festival focused on performance, training, cultural exchange and social impact.

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Training workshops and masterclasses will take place in the mornings from 9 am to 5 pm daily, while live unscripted performances and showcases will be hosted in the evenings from 6 pm to 8 pm daily.

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The festival is being organised by Access to Creative Play Foundation and The Ensemble Improv Theatre Company, organisations known for pioneering Improvisational and Playback Theatre practice in Nigeria.

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Speaking on the significance of the event, the Festival Director and Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, Oluwadamilola Abdulai-Apotieri, described the festival as a platform for expanding creative opportunities and social transformation through storytelling.

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He said the initiative was designed not only as a performance festival but also as a movement aimed at increasing access, visibility and the use of interactive theatre for community development and emotional healing.

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The festival will officially open with the participation of Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa-Musawa, as the special guest of honour.

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According to organisers, the week-long event will feature more than 30 workshops and masterclasses, over 20 international facilitators and trainers, and more than 20 live performances involving Nigerian and international artists.

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Participants are expected from countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway, Greece, South Africa, Australia, Peru, the Philippines, Sweden, Indonesia, Belgium, the Netherlands, Czechia and Nigeria.

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Organisers said the festival is expected to attract about 200 registered participants and over 1,000 audience members during the seven-day programme.

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Improvisational Theatre involves unscripted live performances in which actors create scenes, dialogue, music and movement spontaneously, often based on audience suggestions.

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Playback Theatre, founded in 1975 and now practised in more than 70 countries, allows audience members to share personal stories that are immediately re-enacted on stage by performers.

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Unlike conventional scripted theatre, both formats are increasingly being used globally in mental health support, education, leadership development, conflict transformation, psychosocial interventions and community engagement.

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The organisers noted that their work since 2015 has included humanitarian and psychosocial support interventions in conflict-affected communities across Borno, Adamawa, Yobe and Benue states, particularly among displaced and vulnerable populations.

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They also highlighted the growing global relevance of Applied Improvisation in sectors such as healthcare, education, technology and corporate leadership training.

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Festival partners include Black Improv Alliance, Vintage Improv Festival, Art Tech District, BAZE University, DOXA Digital Media and Pearls Learning Hub.

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