The Impercebility of Theatre Performances in ameliorating Depression Occasioned by COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

For hundreds of years that passed, the world has not witnessed a condition where all its citizens were forced to disengage from their daily economic, political or social activities as it was witnessed during the surge of Corona Virus pandemic (COVID-19) in the latter part of 2019 and early 2020. It was a situation where all human activities were paralysed and in some cases grounded to a halt The Corona Virus pandemic, otherwise known as COVID-19, succeeded in humbling and submitting every human being by confining them to indoor activities. During the period, many who were diagnosed to have contracted the virus were ostracised from the public or isolated from people, mcluding members of their households.

In other cases, for fear of being diagnosed for having COVID-19, illnesses that were hitherto freely announced and for which treatment sought were concealed. Close affinity, which was the hallmark of close relationship demonstrated by hugging and kissing suddenly became prohibited. The only permissible way of expressing pleasantry was through the use of symbolic/semiotic register of greetings expressed in the adoption of fist bumps, elbow rubs and hails across garden walls and other distance greeting styles. In their bid to curb the spread of the virus, governments and organisations in various countnes of the world including the World Health Organisation came up with touchstones referred to as protocols Some measures were made compulsory: constant washing of hands with soap use of hand sanitisers, compulsory use of nose and mouth covers made of clotung materials and keeping of distance (also known as 'social distancing') at public gatherings (where the need to gather becomes absolutely necessary) Distribution of palliative materials also became a measure to ameliorate the effect of the pandemic on people who were left in a situation of protracted confinement

As part of the measures to dissuade large gatherings, staff working in vanous organisations, including government ministries, parastatals and agencies were directed to be working from home. Later when it was observed that the pandemic was casang out, officers at the managerial levels (who were very few) were allowed to be corning to the office to work in obedience to a protocol measure that discouraged crowded gathering

The above enumerated approaches were some of the measures adopted to keep in check the spread of the virus, which was spreading like wild fire in the harmattan period. No doubt, most of the measures were welcome and were seen as right measures in the right direction, directed at stemming the tide of the surge of the Corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic that took the world by storm. These precautionary measures to curb the spread of the virus notwithstanding, the pandemic left people with socio-psychological pains, as people who were hitherto active and mobile could no longer participate in their daily socio-economic, political and cultural routines and activities that they were used to.

The devastating effect occasioned by the compulsory lock-down brought depression to some people. Consequently, the recourse to phantom measures to counter the debilitating effects of the pandemic became absolutely necessary, at least the people had to get out of depression. What were the immediate measures that would bring this succour? A succour was found in theatrical performances which is what is underscored in this paper.

Consequent upon this, this paper presents an option of the theatre and explicates on the role it played in ameliorating the agony of the depression caused by solitary confinement occasioned by the pandemic. Theatre therefore provided the pleasure therapeutic medicine could not immediately provide.