In a bid to promote environmental wellbeing with drama, Thespian Theatre’s Kommuniti Project has partnered the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).
The partnership culminated in the staging of The Flood’s Fury, a play that demonstrates the danger of pollution and other forms of environmental abuse. It was performed by UNIPORT’s Theatre Arts students, and staged on the campus. It thus attracted many students and other members of the university community.
With the success of the production, there is no stopping the train of Thespian Theatre’s pro-environment varsity drama as it has straddled not less than five universities.
While it was launched at Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, the train has been to Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko; Kaduna State University and the University of Abuja.
It will be on stage at the Lagos State University, Ojo, on Friday, with the Chief Executive Officer of Thespian Family Theatre and Productions, Mrs. Ayo Jaiyesimi expressing delight at the success the project is recording.
“The success of the productions has been very inspiring. In each university, we stage a different play performed by students, with their lecturers, including heads of departments, as directors or coordinators. With the Kommuniti Theatre Project, we have been able to use the stone (theatre) to kill multiple birds. We propagate the gospel of the environment. We encourage the lecturers to practicalise what they teach in class while students are given an opportunity to showcase and grow their talents. And I must say that the university managements have generally been amazing in the way they cooperate with us”, Jaiyesimi said.
If there is any state in Nigeria that needs the message of environmental safety and climate change mostly, it might just be Rivers State, where UNIPORT is domiciled. As the seat of oil companies and host of notable rivers, the state is prone to degradation. When Thespian Family Theatre & Productions recently berthed at UNIPORT with a message of renewal for the environment, it was just at the right place at the right time.
The Flood’s Fury is a one-act drama explores the catastrophic impacts of flood on a fishing port community of the Niger Delta region. The fisherman (central character) recounts the horrific events that unfolded as the flood strikes without warning, destroying homes, livelihoods, and lives.
The play perfectly fits into the project as it dwells on a menace that the nation dare not ignore: flooding. In the play, the fisherman describes the power and fury of the rising waters, which seem to have a life of their own as they sweep away everything in their path. He reflects on the fragility of human existence in the face of nature’s wrath, and how the community is unprepared and powerless to stop the destruction.
The producers add that the play also highlights the role of human actions and negligence in contributing to the disaster. The fisherman talks about how the community has disrupted the natural balance of the river through unsustainable development and environmental degradation, setting the stage for the catastrophic flood.
As the flood rages, the play depicts the chaos, panic, and personal tragedies that unfold, including the drowning of the fisherman’s own family. The aftermath is described, with the community left to grapple with the immense loss, trauma, and the daunting task of rebuilding their lives.
Ultimately, the play serves as a cautionary tale, urging the audience to heed the lessons of the flood and take action to mitigate the risks of such disasters in the future. The fisherman’s story underscores the need for better environmental stewardship, disaster preparedness, and a deeper respect for the power and unpredictability of nature.
