ABSTRACT:

Theatre Management is one of the specialist areas of the course Theatre Arts. It is one of the major areas of theatre practice. Its importance is so great that the theatre manager is the “boss” of the theatre. Apart from this greatness and its unique importance, it has a very wide scope. Because of its scope and appeal, it has been defined by many people in different ways. Consequently, there are almost as many definitions of Theatre Management as there are theatre managers -  each defining it according to his own experience and knowledge. One of the most popular definitions state that

Theatre Management is

the art  and science of planning, staffing, organizing, motivating, directing and controlling human and material resources in the arts of the theatre, and their interaction in order to attain the predetermined objectives of guaranteeing satisfaction, having a full house and maximizing profit. (Chris Nwamuo 1986:2)

It has also been defined as:

The art and science of mobilizing and harmonizing human and material resources of the theatre – the elements of a theatrical x production and spectacle-in appropriate combinations, at the right time and for the right audience into a whole-a production and theatre business-that can inform, educate, entertain as well as maximize profit. (Innocent Ohiri 1999:1).

The elements of a theatrical production here include the creative raw materials. These are the concept,  the scenario, the script. They also include a place to present the idea – a street, the village square, a theatre, a market place; a person to refine the material – a dancer, singer, witch doctor, an actor; and an audience to witness the production. (Innocent Ohiri 1999:32).

In these definitions, Theatre Management has been said to be an art and a science. Many have been wondering how this can be explained and thus, there are many questions concerning the status of Management in the art – science dichotomy. The truth in this fact becomes very evident with a good comprehension of the definitions and meanings of both Arts and Science. Arts, simply put, is work of man, human skill (contrasted with the work of nature), the creation and expression of what is beautiful (I. C. Ohiri 1999:4). Theatre Management is a work of man – the procurement, harmonization and the profitable utilization of various resources – and it involves a lot of human skill in procuring, harmonizing and utilizing the resources. The performance, which is the ultimate result, involves the expression of the beautiful. When examined from this perspective, it qualifies as  arts.

Science has been defined as “knowledge preserved in such an orderly manner that it can be easily observed and tested. This includes knowledge of events and people’s way of life” (I.C. Ohiri 1999:4).Theatre Management entails the orderly procurement, harmonization and utilization of human and material resources of the theatre. So the orderliness that qualifies things as science is there. It utilizes human and material resources that are obtained through observation (eg stories, plays etc) and human behaviour which can be tested and confirmed. It enhances the presentation of the knowledge of the behaviour of people. Being so concerned and related to the characteristics of science, theatre management also qualifies as science.