Nigeria to Host Africa's First Improv Theatre Festival

Nigeria is set to host Africa's first International Improv and Playback Theatre Festival in Abuja from June 21 to 27, 2026. This landmark event will gather practitioners from North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa, marking the first convergence of the global improvisation and playback theatre community on the African continent.

The festival will focus on performance, training, cultural exchange, and social impact, featuring daily workshops and master classes from 9 AM to 5 PM, alongside live unscripted performances showcased from 6 PM to 8 PM. The festival is organized by the Access Creative Play Foundation and the Ensembl Improv Theatre Company, with Oluwadamilola Abdulai serving as the festival director and chief executive officer of the foundation.

Abdulai described the festival as a significant platform for expanding creative opportunities and fostering social transformation through storytelling.