An Overview of Department of Theatre arts
The Department of Theatre Arts at Wolkite University is an academic and creative hub committed to the study, preservation, and advancement of Ethiopian and world theatrical traditions. As part of the College of Social Sciences and Humanities, the department focuses on cultivating artistic talent, critical thinking, cultural awareness, and social engagement through the performing arts.
The program offers rigorous training in acting, directing, playwriting, stage design, theatre history, dramatic theory, and community-based performance. It aims to produce graduates who are not only artists but also educators, researchers, and change-makers who can contribute to Ethiopia’s cultural, educational, and social development.
In alignment with the university's mission, the department actively engages with local communities to promote dialogue, education, and transformation through drama and live performance.
Objectives/Goals
- Develop Skilled Theatre Practitioners and Scholars: Train students in the theory and practice of theatre to become professional actors, directors, playwrights, designers, and educators.
- Preserve and Promote Ethiopian Cultural Heritage: Research, document, and perform traditional and contemporary Ethiopian theatrical forms.
- Use Theatre as a Tool for Social Change: Encourage theatre as a medium for raising awareness, education, and addressing societal issues such as gender, environment, peace, and governance.
- Support Research and Creative Production: Foster academic and artistic research in performance studies, dramatic literature, and applied theatre.
- Contribute to National Arts and Education: Prepare graduates who can teach theatre arts in schools and cultural institutions and contribute to Ethiopia’s creative economy.
- Promote Interdisciplinary and Community Engagement: Collaborate with other disciplines and engage communities through participatory and educational theatre programs.
Duties and Responsibilities
Academic Instruction
- Offer undergraduate courses in acting, directing, stagecraft, playwriting, theatre history, performance theory, and criticism.
- Guide student research, script development, and production work.
- Integrate both Ethiopian and global theatre traditions into the curriculum.
Creative Production and Performance
- Organize student and faculty-led theatrical performances, cultural festivals, and touring productions.
- Encourage innovative and original works addressing contemporary social and cultural issues.
Research and Publication
- Conduct research on indigenous and modern theatre, oral traditions, performance aesthetics, and theatre for development.
- Publish research articles, performance scripts, and documentation of local performance practices.
Community Outreach and Theatre for Development
- Use theatre in community-based programs to address public health, education, social justice, and civic engagement.
- Partner with schools, NGOs, and local governments to create performances that educate and empower.
Capacity Building and Cultural Promotion
· Offer training and workshops for local artists, drama teachers, and community groups.
· Promote youth theatre, school drama clubs, and regional theatre initiatives.
Collaboration and Institutional Engagement
- Collaborate with national and international cultural institutions, festivals, and universities.
- Engage in interdisciplinary projects with departments such as music, language, history, and education.
Theatre Resource Management
- Manage facilities such as rehearsal spaces, costume and prop storage, lighting and sound equipment, and performance venues.
- Maintain a departmental library and archive of scripts, recordings, and research materials.