Drama as Lecturer Disrupts Live Theatre Performance to Conduct Impromptu Test 

Madam Tinubu's cast back on stage to take a bow 

Photo. Adebayo Nurudeen 

 • Threatens to fail the students in case of non-compliance

• SUG fails to take action

• Casts condemn lecturer's  action

• SONTA’s Ex-President labels incident as “unethical”

Our Reporters

It was drama within drama as a part-time lecturer disrupted live theatre performance to conduct Impromptu test, threatening to fail the concerned students if they refuse to comply.

The incident, which occurred during the Madam Tinubu’s play staged by Nurudeen Ibrahim Art Foundation (NIAF) and hosted by the Students Union Government’s Social Director in celebration of the SUG week at the Lagos State University of Science and Technology’s (LASUSTECH) 700-seaters lecture theatre on Wednesday, saw the lecturer simply identified as Mr. Fashina walked up the stage; collected the microphone as he called out the ND2 Mass Communication SPTSE students whom he teaches Economics.

His action threw the audience into confusion as students were seen walking out of the auditorium bringing the play into sudden hold which lasted over thirty minutes.

While the delay lasts, Mr. Fashina could be seen in a viral video engaging the Art Director of the play, Mr. Nurudeen Ibrahim, in a lengthy conversation after which he readdressed the remaining audience in the auditorium.

He called for the split of the audience into two batches on account of the stuffiness of the auditorium due to overcrowdedness and poor ventilation- with the implication being that the play will be staged twice.

“This place is not conducive. We have to divide this class into two so that it will make the place more conducive. I want you to know that if you people are staying under this uncomfortable environment, it can lead to what we call exasperation. So A and B students please leave this place now.” He said in the video.

However, he later realized that the audience comprised not just ND2 Mass Communication Part-time evening students, but students from other departments and programmes.

Meanwhile, the Students Union Government’s Social Director, Daud Muritalah Bolajoko, was absent at the event and effort to reach out to him via phone call during the incident proved abortive.

The Social Director later gave reason for his absence during a chat with our correspondence after the play.

“I had a lot of programs so I couldn’t stay for the event because I was delivering a lecture at an MSSN program they invited me to and I wasn’t with the phone.” He said.

Our correspondent also reached out to the SUG Public Relations Officer, Adesina Wonuola, who promised to tender the case to other executive members of the union.

Unfortunately, the promise is yet to be fulfilled as at the time of filing this report.

Reacting to the incident were casts of the play who expressed their displeasure over the disruption.

For Olasiyan Ayoola who played the role of Chief Asogbon (one of the white cap chiefs of Lagos), the disruption discouraged him but his commitment to the rehearsal of the play reignited his morale to continue as he condemned the SUG for their inaction.

“Seriously, I felt somehow. I felt like, is this how all our efforts in rehearsal will vanish? Why in the first place will the man do such if we have a sound SUG in school? We know that his actions are going to be checkmated. But he feels like a demi-god so far nobody will penalize him because he is a chief lecturer.

“I thought the show won’t go on again, thinking that we will pack our things and leave. But when Mr. Ibrahim said we should continue, it was the morale of the rehearsal that made me continue.” He said.

Similarly, Akinwale Pelumi, who played the role of Madam Tinubu- the lead character of the drama, admitted to the challenges faced in stage drama, but expressed her displeasure over intrusion of the play by the lecturer while also putting the blame on the Students Union Government.

“Personally, I understand stage dramas are spiritual hence comes with a lot of challenges. But then I felt really bad and discouraged that a lecturer would allow himself be a tool to cause delay in the middle of a stage drama. To think we already started the stage play was what annoyed me extremely. I felt annoyed but then it is what it is, our SUG body isn’t strong enough to tell a lecturer not to disrupt activities going on by students so I’d put the blame on them.” She said.

For Olowu Rihanat, it was fear of effort in futility that gripped her as she decried the number of classes she had to miss just to make it to rehearsals.

“I thought we won’t do that play again. I thought about the classes I skipped because of the show. I thought about the energy I put during rehearsals. I was scared the show will no longer hold considering several performance invites I ignored just to be here.” Olowu said.

While others were mostly disappointed, words could not describe the rage of Adekunle Adewunmi who opined that the lecturer would have called the Director of the play aside rather than walking up the stage.

“I was very angry. In fact, if there is another word that is much more than , that was d mood I was. I felt the other lecturer could have just call on Mr. Ibrahim and talk to him privately instead of just walking in on the show. It was a very irritating and annoying thing to do. It was just like ruining a lot of people’s weeks of work, sweat and money.” She said.

Also reacting to the incident, in a telephone conversation, was the immediate past president of the Society of Nigeria Theatre Artists (SONTA), Professor Alex Asigbo, who labelled the incident as unethical while also noting the absence of theatre department in the institution as another factor for such occurrence.

“That is highly unethical. But the motto of theatre is that the show must go on. So, normally, that doesn’t stop a production. But as there is no proper theatre department, there is no professional to let them know the ethics and rules of the profession.” Prof. Asigbo said

The Nnamdi Azikiwe University Professor, however, lauded the presence of Nurudeen Ibrahim Art Foundation (NIAF) on campus, stressing that it might be a stepping stone for the establishment of a full-fledged theatre department in the Institution.

“Meanwhile, I want to believe that the fact that you already have that type of foundation may eventually lead them to starting a full-fledged theatre department- just as Rivers State University of Science and Technology have done. What the man did was entirely unethical.” He stressed further.

On the availability of the code of conducts and ethics guiding theatre performance, Prof. Asigbo revealed there is no available document containing the codes. Rather, they are taught in theatre departments.

“It is not something that you will just see somewhere documented, but these things are taught. As soon as you come in, there is what we call orientation in different theatre departments across the country. It is within that period that they are inducted and told the ethics of the theatre.” He added.

However, the play director, Mr. Nurudeen Ibrahim, disclosed that Mr. Fashina was supposed to have the concerned students by 2pm and he had earlier told the students that the play will end before that time.

The delay in commencement of the play, however, saw the students held at the auditorium as their lecture hour elapsed.

“He was to have them in class by 2pm. I have told the students that we should be done before that time. But since the play was delayed, the students were still in the auditorium.

“When he came and saw the place jam packed, he said it wasn't ideal for safety reasons.” Mr. Ibrahim said.