Abuja to host Africa’s first playback theatre festival

Nigeria will host Africa’s first-ever joint global festival for Improvisational Theatre and Playback Theatre practitioners as Abuja prepares to welcome performers, educators, humanitarian workers and storytellers from across the world for a week-long cultural gathering in June. The festival, tagged #MeetInNigeria, is scheduled to hold from June 21 to 27 in the Federal Capital Territory, bringing together participants from North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa. Organisers said the event marks the first time both global Improvisational and Playback Theatre communities will converge on the African continent for a combined festival focused on performance, training, cultural exchange and social impact. Training workshops and masterclasses will take place in the mornings from 9 am to 5 pm daily, while live unscripted performances and showcases will be hosted in the evenings from 6 pm to 8 pm daily. The festival is being organised by Access to Creative Play Foundation and The Ensemble Improv Theatre Company, organisations known for pioneering Improvisational and Playback Theatre practice in Nigeria. Speaking on the significance of the event, the Festival Director and Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, Oluwadamilola Abdulai-Apotieri, described the festival as a platform for expanding creative opportunities and social transformation through storytelling. He said the initiative was designed not only as a performance festival but also as a movement aimed at increasing access, visibility and the use of interactive theatre for community development and emotional healing. The festival will officially open with the participation of Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa-Musawa, as the special guest of honour. According to organisers, the week-long event will feature more than 30 workshops and masterclasses, over 20 international facilitators and trainers, and more than 20 live performances involving Nigerian and international artists. • Top stars to battle for $100,000 at 2026 WTT Lagos • Abducted Abuja lawyer regains freedom • ACF BoT voids chair’s suspension, calls action illegal Participants are expected from countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway, Greece, South Africa, Australia, Peru, the Philippines, Sweden, Indonesia, Belgium, the Netherlands, Czechia and Nigeria. Organisers said the festival is expected to attract about 200 registered participants and over 1,000 audience members during the seven-day programme. Improvisational Theatre involves unscripted live performances in which actors create scenes, dialogue, music and movement spontaneously, often based on audience suggestions. Playback Theatre, founded in 1975 and now practised in more than 70 countries, allows audience members to share personal stories that are immediately re-enacted on stage by performers. Unlike conventional scripted theatre, both formats are increasingly being used globally in mental health support, education, leadership development, conflict transformation, psychosocial interventions and community engagement. The organisers noted that their work since 2015 has included humanitarian and psychosocial support interventions in conflict-affected communities across Borno, Adamawa, Yobe and Benue states, particularly among displaced and vulnerable populations. They also highlighted the growing global relevance of Applied Improvisation in sectors such as healthcare, education, technology and corporate leadership training. Festival partners include Black Improv Alliance, Vintage Improv Festival, Art Tech District, BAZE University, DOXA Digital Media and Pearls Learning Hub.