Sarcouncil Journal of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences

Abstract: The artist is not only a visionary but also, a very proactive individual. Oftentimes, he anticipates and takes remedial action against situations that have not yet manifested to the rest of humanity. Thus, from Soyinka’s A Dance of the Forests, Achebe’s A Man of the People, Irobi’s Hangmen Also Die, to the myriad of artistic plays and novels that accurately predicted events, one notices that the Artist/Playwright is gifted with the power of vision. Theatre practice is usually very adversely affected either by a depressed economy or by pandemics. However, since the motto of the Theatre is “the show must go on”, it is not surprising that Playwrights, always find ways to ensure that Theatre practice continues against all odds. One of the most ingenious ways invented by Playwrights towards sustaining Theatre practice either in a depressed economy or in a pandemic is the Minimalist Theatre. Minimalism or Minimalist theatre is a type of play that uses very few characters and set in conveying its message. Thus, plays like Greg Mbajiorgu’s The Prime Minister’s Son, Athol Fugard’s Sizwe Bansi is Dead and the various other plays that employ minimal cast, can effectively be produced with minimal health risks, especially in pandemic periods. This work will therefore attempt a review of different minimalist plays to show that they hold the potential of sustaining theatre practice even in the most difficult periods.