Of Place and Displaced: Mobility and Space in the Performance of Crises

Abstract

The post-postcolonial African State is characterized by crises of various dimensions. At the roots of these crises are poor leadership and mismanagement of the responsibility of governance by the ruling elites. This ultimately deepens the poverty level of the people and reduces individual and institutional capacity to respond to emergencies (Lawal 2007; Edebor 2014; Fagbadebo & Dorasamy 2021). In Nigeria, millions of people are displaced every year owing to terrorism, ethno-religious conflicts, flooding, oil and gas pipeline explosions, political violence, land disputes and inter-communal clashes. The displaced are usually sheltered at temporary locations and designated IDP Camps away from their ancestral homes. In recent times, theatre is being taken to displaced persons in Nigeria to address their identity crisis as well as emotional, health, and socio-economic concerns (Nwadigwe 2007; Afolabi 2020). These displaced audiences are mobile and immobile at the same time. Using recent theatrical experiences from the Nigerian context, this study examines the dynamics of venue, space, and mobility in applied theatre performances.