As the coronavirus pandemic poses a challenge to the arts in what looks like a tailspin, Nigeria’s National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) has come up with a physically distant solution to fill the void created by closing entertainment events — with a drive-in performance in theatre.
Drive-in theaters had been relatively scarce around the world before the pandemic, but the strain on the entertainment industry, as exacerbated by COVID-19, has seen a surge in attendance in countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Spain , France and Nigeria joining the league.
A drive-in theatre is a cinematic structure with a large outdoor, theatre performance or movie show in a large parking lot with the audience enjoying the communal leisure experience from their vehicles.
A Nigerian filmmaker, Charles Okpaleke, launched drive-in cinemas in Abuja and Lagos earlier in May as the effects of the coronavirus pandemic became somewhat harder in Nollywood, with a live performance by a famous singer, Style Plus and the Best DJs, and a screening of ‘Living in Bondage.’
Mr Okpaleke, who bought the rights to ‘Nneka the Pretty Serpent,’ ‘Glamour Girls’ and ‘Rattle Snake,’ five years after he purchased the rights to ‘Living in Bondage,’ said the cinema drive-in was a way of keeping the movie-goers happy while upholding the rules of social distance.
But for the Director-General, NCAC, Olusegun Runsewe, the COVID-19 strain has not only caused a deficit in entertainment but also a cultural vacuum for many enthusiasts of cultural arts.
Mr Runsewe, who recently unveiled a virtually cultural tour of Nigeria, launched the drive-in theater performances of a play and cultural songs as a prelude to the year 2020 edition of the National Arts Festival (NAFEST), which will be hosted by Plateau State in October.
In light of the public health emergency, he said the aim was also to keep stakeholders involved and the creative sector active.
Following a series of virtual meetings with stakeholders, ranging from experts, members of the diplomatic community, and journalists, he said the ideas of a drive-in theater and cultural tour were born as part of efforts to reposition the sector to mitigate the COVID-19 impacts, rather than leaving the sector idle.
He added the pandemic is plated with both misfortunes and exploratory opportunities.
“The arts and culture sector has been one of the hardest hit of the coronavirus pandemic with many events being put on hold and businesses close up. However, from another angle, COVID- 19 is like rain falling and it gives us an opportunity to think outside the box and to come up with new innovations such as the virtual cultural tour and this (the drive-in theatre) which serve as a therapy and rain jacket for the pandemic,” Mr Runsewe said Abuja on Sunday night, during his opening remarks at the Sheraton hotel.
Corroborating the position of Mr Runsewe, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Culture and Tourism, Ogbeide Ihama, said that despite its malignant effects the public health crisis has opened a window of new innovations.
“With the COVID-19 pandemic, we must do things differently and also must continue as a nation and as a people. This initiative by the NCAC is not only laudable, it is also convenient.
“From one’s car, one can see the staged play and other theatre performances with strict compliance with the pandemic protocols on physical distancing,” Mr Ihama said.
The drive-in theater was accessed by a chosen few with no more than 20 vehicles spaced two meters apart in compliance with government restrictions on social distance and an effort to maintain a risk-free environment.
Temperature checks are conducted at the entrance to the Sheraton hotel parking lot, and hand sanitizers are issued to occupants of each vehicle appearing in protective face masks.
Mobile toilets were also located two meters apart at the far ends of the car park for emergency excretion with proper sanitary supplies.
As the event first featured a live performance of cultural songs by the Nigerian Cultural Troops in the three most populous tribes — Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo —the Sheraton hotel chef who enjoyed cultural trips curated a top-notch menu of snacks and desserts served by a contactless delivery system to keep the hungry audience satisfied.
A staged production of “Grip Am,” a Pidgin-language play written by Ola Rotimi, one of Nigeria ‘s leading playwright, then captured the audience with seductive production by Nollywood actor Francis Duru, who played the character, Ise
The play centres around Iṣẹ, a poor farmer with a lot of problems and a chaotic marriage. One day, he is visited by an angel with a message from God that He was tired of his troubles and marital squabbles.
The angel promises to grant him one wish by God’s leave. Ise requests that if he says “Grip Am” to any being that comes near his orange tree, the tree should grab the climber and not release its grip until he (Ise) tells the tree to let go.
In one comedic twist after another, Ise uses this power to get everything he wants, including trapping the Angel of Death to the tree and making him swear not to kill him or his wife ever.
At each riveting moment, the roar of revving engines replaced applause from the audience to reignite the communal leisure experience.
For Tunde Ogunbamiwo, a civil servant, the drive-in theatre was a new experience he never imagined he would have.
He said apart from the compliance with the pandemic protocols, he was mesmerised by the live cultural performances, adding that he couldn’t wait to share his experience with colleagues at work.
“This is a wonder initiative that is not only COVID-19-compliant but is also intriguing. The experience is really good, I can’t wait to share it with my colleagues at work, so they could join the league,” he said, beaming his bright smile at his child tugged to his chest.
It was not a first-time experience for the deputy counsellor of the Venezuelan embassy in Nigeria, Luis Pineda, to enjoy a drive-in theatre, but it was a great time and his first in Nigeria.
“I enjoyed it, it’s good. We can eat some food in our car while we share experience and similar cultural trips from both the staged play and other performances. And of course, there is the compliance with the social distancing guidelines, we can’t leave our car without a solid reason like peeing,” Mr Pineda said, sharing the you-know-look with his partner.
For Winifred Alobo-Agogo, a socialite, the event was a bastion of fun and education. Despite the coronavirus blues, Ms Alobo-Agogo said the performances were soothing and more importantly, enlightened many like her on how to manage relationships in tiring moments as the play offered a ray of hope at the end for the protagonist.
“Looking at what was done today, it gives you an idea on how to be creative about managing relationships during this difficult time. I like the fact that it gives a ray of hope at the end,” she said, expressing gratitude to the arts and culture agency.
Asked why the event was only open to some quarters of the public, the NCAC’s spokesperson, Chas Nwam said the audience cut across stakeholders of the culture sector and members of the diplomatic community to meet the guidelines on social gathering and physical distancing.
“The notion that the event is only meant for the affluent is wrong, the audience here are mostly stakeholders of the creative sector and some members of the diplomatic community. The national association of theatre practitioners is here, the head of tourism association is here, arts reporters are here and some representatives of some embassies are here to. All this is to strictly adhere to the pandemic protocols,” Mr Nwam said.