Prospects of box office management in a recessed economy: A study of uniport arts theatre

Abstract

It is a statement of fact that box office poses a great positive impact on the economy of any nation. However, for theatre organization to record higher levels of economic performance, there are number of critical issues of management that require effective leadership and professional handling. With the recognition of box office as the most commercially viable unit of theatrical production, this paper opines that the box office holds a robust potential for improving the Nigeria’s economy. In spite of this cheering potential, the practice of box office management in Nigeria is highly underdeveloped in scholarship. This paper examines the management of theatre business with the view of making possible recommendations that would culminate in improving the Nigeria’s economy, using University of Port Harcourt Arts Theatre, as a case study. This paper which adopts historical and literary methodology is anchored on Herbert Simon’s Decision Science Theory of Management which is simply identified as decision-making. The finding of this paper among others is the scanty nature of the organizational structure of the Arts Theatre; it means that there are organs or arms that ought to be included. The importance of these organs cannot be neglected. Similarly, this paper recommends the immediate need to review the administrative structure and policies of the Arts Theatre. The box office personnel should be made to undergo proper training. Above all, this study provides modalities on how to improve on box office management in order to have enough returns to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s economic growth.