Assoc. Prof. Ifeanyi Ugwu is a distinguished scholar of Theatre Arts and Performance Studies with extensive contributions to Nigerian drama, folklore, and intercultural performance. His teaching, research, and creative practice engage with traditional Nigerian theatre, popular performance, dramaturgy, and the intersection of theatre with social development.
He has published widely in reputable journals and edited volumes, with articles addressing themes such as mythology in performance, intercultural theatre, actor training, folkism, audience engineering, community education, and intertextual readings of canonical and modern plays. His works include History, Mythology and Theatre of Social Conscience, Igbo Masquerade Drama and Intercultural Performance in Nigeria, and Theatre and Drama in the Task of Parenting and Childcare in Nigeria. His scholarship demonstrates a consistent commitment to using theatre as a tool for national consciousness, cultural preservation, and social change.
In addition to scholarly articles, Assoc. Prof. Ugwu is the author of two creative works, Termites on the Roof (2003) and A Beam in the Dark (2006), which combine literary innovation with performative depth. He is also a professional theatre director, with a record of staging both his own plays and canonical works such as The Gods Are Not to Blame, Ovonramwen Nogbaisi, and Guardian of the Cosmos. His productions reflect his ability to merge scholarship with practice, pedagogy with performance.
Research Interests
Traditional Nigerian Theatre and Performance
Intercultural Dramaturgy
Folkism and Popular Theatre
Actor Training and Audience Studies
Theatre and Social Development
Academic offerings include 95 majors, 86 minors, and more than 100 in-major specializations
