Imo don seeks assistance for theatre department

From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri

An associate professor of the Department of Media Studies (Film) of the Imo State University, Gloria Chimeziem Ene- Samuel, has appealed to the Imo State government to assist the department to enable it to procure the necessary technical equipment for the training of students in film production.

Ene- Samuel who directed and produced the stage drama of “Sipping coffee with my Boss”, a play written by Hon Jerry Alagbaso , former Member of the House of Representatives for Orsu/ Oru East / Orlu at the weekend was held at the COMMASIE Arts Theatre of the Imo State University.

“The play sipping coffee with my Boss tries to mirror the leadership problems in the university environment and the solutions to these problems. We decided to do the stage production because it is going to help the Management of the Imo State University to draw from the lessons that the playwright Jerry Alagbaso is trying to pass to them to always investigate issues before decisions are taken and as well as dealing with the problem of sycophancy.

“But the department lacks the funds to do the command production earlier. Most universities like entertainment but they don’t want to fund it. It was Hon Jerry Alagbaso who provided us with the funds when we told him about the command production of his play. He hired some of the technical hands for us. We used our students. The Department lacks the necessary funds and equipment like the stage lightning which we have to hire and they are very expensive.  So, we are appealing to the state government and individuals to assist the department because we intend to commence film production but we don’t have the money. We have the abundant talents in this department to do it,” She said.

The Head of the Theatre Arts department, Dr Chris Nwaru, commended Jerry Alagbaso for the play, noting that “it is not easy to be in politics and still have the time to write plays.