How did Hubert Ogunde bring plays to audiences across Nigeria?

Hubert Ogunde, often called the father of Nigerian theatre, brought his plays to audiences across Nigeria by establishing the country's first professional touring company, the Ogunde Concert Party, in 1945.12

His company was highly mobile, performing with equal ease in remote villages and major metropolitan centers throughout Nigeria and West Africa. To ensure his productions resonated with diverse crowds, Ogunde utilized a flexible performance technique: he would sketch out the basic plot and rehearse the songs, but the dialogue remained improvised. This allowed his actors to adjust their performances dynamically to suit the specific audience they were facing.1

By blending contemporary political and social satire with music hall elements, slapstick, and popular musical styles, Ogunde created a successful commercial model that prepared audiences across the country for the growth of theatre as a vital part of urban pop culture.1