PLAY DIRECTING AND THE ISSUES OF MORAL STANDARD IN A FAITH-BASED UNIVERSITY

Abstract

The role of a director in a theatrical production cannot be overemphasised. He possesses directorial prowess that empowers him to conceptualise his directorial approach in the course of production without recourse to anyone. Hence, he is assumed to have a wealth of artistic concepts and interpretations. However, his artistic conceptualisation and interpretation as well as the use of other theatrical elements in production are sometimes delimited by his environment. This environmental delimitation was observed in religious environment, due to standards of morality and religious ethics, thereby compromising with theatre ethics and guiding principles. To this end, this paper examined directing and the issue of religious ethos in a faith-based university. Amongst its many findings, it was observed that the director of a faith-based University is sometimes delimited in his directorial approach due to environmental factors and peculiarity. Additionally, it was found that the director in a faith-based University sometimes compromises standard to accommodate the peculiarity of their environment. In conclusion, the management of the faith-based university must come to terms with the distinct nature of Theatre Arts in this age of realism. This is not to suggest accommodation of immorality but instead campaign against it. Directors in faith-based institutions should find a middle ground in conceptualising and interpreting their works without compromising the ethics and principles of the profession. Finally, directors should also find common ground to accommodate and promote the values and norms that define such an environment in the discharge of their duties.