IN line with its objective of encouraging the development of children theatre, the National Troupe of Nigeria (NTN) is perfecting strategies to stage a dramatized storytelling competition in celebration of the 2012 International Day of Child.The programme is to run yearly under the Troupe's Children Theatre Support Services. It is also to complement the Troupe's annual Children Creative Station (CSS) Programme, which was introduced in 2010.Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Troupe, Mr. Martin Adaji, explained that like the troupe's Children Creative Station programme which is in its second year, the new Dramatized Schools Storytelling Competition will seek 'to re-awaken children's imagination, creativity, imagery, visual appreciation and love for ancient culture through the storytelling competition.'Adaji observed that storytelling which is a unique element in the Nigerian culture and traditional values is gradually fading away, noting that children are now more exposed to foreign stories and tales that have beclouded their minds. 'It is for this reason that we have initiated this project as a way of helping to bring back our fading storytelling tradition' Adaji said.Slated to hold between May and June 2012 with the preliminaries scheduled for between May 29 and June 1, 2012 at the National Theatre, Iganmu Lagos, the competition will be among selected schools in the Lagos metropolis and it is open to primary and secondary schools. However, elimination will take place during this period and successful schools for the finale will emerge from the elimination process.The grand finale will hold in June 2012 and successful schools will perform to a very large audience, which includes members of the Diplomatic Corps, Art Patrons and top-notch personalities. Certificate of participation, and valuable educational items will be won by participating schools. Also, each school participating in the competition will be at liberty to choose their title, write their story and decide method and mode of presentation. Furthermore, stories to be re-enacted can include music, drama, puppetry or any other visual elements and must have local content as well as teach morale and academic prowess.Meanwhile, the National Troupe will now hold its quarterly Play Reading Session in June 2012 as against May 2012. The postponement according to a statement from the Troupe is to allow time for the final burial rites of Miss Virginia Okereku, a lead dancer and actress with the Troupe who passed on recently after a brief illness. The deceased artiste will be interred in her home town in Cross River state later in May 2012.
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