By LARI WILLIAMS

Acting should be removed totally from the jamboree of courses that constitute theatre art department. Graduates of theatre history, make up, choreography, dance etc. flaunt certificates and diplomas but unfortunately acting or drama is not given the attention it deserves in this array of unemployable young stars.

Lack of trained actors is adversely affecting the entertainment industry particularly the stage and the cinema. Only a handful of performing artists can claim any benefits from the theatre arts department so we should separate theatre arts department from universities and establish drama schools as in other parts of the world.

In England for instance, only Glasgow University maintains a drama department within the university. The entertainment industry needs performing artist to serve the stage and the screen, big and small. Nigeria film industry is in dire need for actors.

The stage is almost bare for lack of trained and proficient actors. The television is jamming all-Commers on Screen as actors with poor speech, bad scripts, no message or interpretation, altogether without acting skill. Continuation, What with no auditorium, no promotion and no obvious structures to keep acting tradition or the performing arts alive.

There are drama schools like Royal Academy of dramatic Arts, London Academy of Dramatic Art, WEBBER Doughlas Academy of dramatic arts, central school of music and drama fast is acting school to mention but a few, and they teach acting in its entirety from speech, acting technique to psychology in acting, so they train and graduate actors, not “theater arts” undefined and unemployable graduates.

By the way, let’s correct this eranous belief that theatre does not make money. Theatre in America has spread from broad way to off broad way to off – off broad way because it’s making so much money and spreading so much message in entertainment.

In England, top shows are booked months ahead making “full house” attendance, let’s build theatre tradition.

All we need to do is to establish professional acting schools to teach drama and the science of presentation to improve entertain value in our shows.

In acting as in music, we require training in our entertainment on presentation. Music in our entertainment has become purely instrumental for dancing music also need refinement in voice, word content and meaningful statement to keep them fresh and entertaining. One of such new commerce is Didee Eta R n B/soul future awards and then weat on to work as a staff writer at sound city blast magazine, with full intention of building his knowledge for his interest in music. He further perfected his craft when he enrolled at the New York film academy (NYFA). Didee Eta makes a good listening and entertaining materials.