THE Abuja-based theatre organisation, 2 Masks and Griot 2MG, recently launched its online platform Corona Chronicles at the first virtual General Assembly of the International Theatre Institute ITI, which held December 11 to 15.
Corona Chronicles is a global online platform that will enable artistes share their unique experiences of the lockdown, and encourage the continuous creation of theatrical writings and productions from the comfort of one’s home, regardless of the pandemic.
Working in collaboration with the ITI, the UnitedStates Embassy in Nigeria, and Envivo TV, which streamed the performances 24/7, 2MG brings the content without charge to theatre-going audiences and artistes across the globe.
Director, Chidi Ukwu said the project is one of the best illustrations of humanity, of people selflessly making their works available to enable others connect artistically and culturally, despite the lockdown without charging them for it.
“Corona Chronicles is a sort of ‘from home’ collaboration that allows artistes wherever they are in the world to be able to go into space virtually and collaborate with other writers and actors to create new works of theatre. The essence is for people to be able to express how they are experiencing lockdowns from their side of the world. Now, I can’t go there, I can’t go to the theatre, I am not allowed to travel but a writer in India can express what lockdowns are like for them, how they see it from a cultural perspective or a gender perspective and create an exciting piece of theatre.
“Once that is created and put up on our portal, another actor from Djibouti can view that play and say, ‘I want to perform this Indian play at home’. And from home, with a cell phone only, and some data they can perform that play and upload it to the portal. None of us are getting paid in dollars or naira to do it, but we get plenty of satisfaction from continuing to perform for and show our works to other people.”
Artistes, he however, noted are free to exploit their intellectual property for sale on other media platforms.
Beyond Covid-19, the portal, Ukwu said will remain open for continued collaborations. “If there is anything the pandemic taught us, it is the importance of continuing to work together despite the differences and barriers we face,” said the director.
Corona Chronicles’ plays will come on air by 2021.
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More Information here on that Topic: naijatimes.ng/theatre-troupe-launches-online-platform-corona-chronicles/ […]