Postmodernism as Quality Assurance in Live Theatre Productions

Abstract

The ineffective application of requisite theoretical and methodological frameworks in stage productions affects the quality of performances in live theatre practice. This study evaluated the production techniques of postmodernism in two live theatre productions. The productions are Emmanuel Ebekue’s A Time in the Zoo and Rosaline Yacim’s Naira Has No Gender. These case studies were purposively selected because the Directors’ attempted to achieve quality assurance through the application of postmodern production techniques to influence both the production and reception of the stage plays. Hinged on the Zeitgeist theory as proposed by Edwin Boring, the study found that the Directors’ applied postmodern techniques like pastiche, intertextuality, metafiction, parody, and co-artistry to influence the overall aesthetics of the productions to reflect the creative spirit of postmodernism. The study concludes that contemporary theatre must always evolve along with trends in order to render quality service for improved patronage. Therefore, the study recommended the integration of postmodern techniques and methods in the production of stage plays to ensure quality assurance in the theatre.