Mr Richard Umezinwa [He/Him]
Ecostage Pledger
Can you tell us something about yourself?
I'm a Theatre and Film Lecturer, Researcher/Practitioner in technical Theatre and film . I Have worked across the Nigerian Theatre and film industries as; Technical production consultant, Set designer, Lighting designer, Technical director, Props manager. I have also taken part in Children's Theatre and community health humanities theatre outreach. In the last few years I have been opportune to work many theatre outfits and organizations many capacities, they include Development Performance Initiative (DPI) a university and community based theatre outfit, VOICE INNOVATION LAB aimed at Creating safe for young people to thrive. Nigeria National Theatre Iganmu, Kaab Production Nigeria, Mosaic Theatre Production Nigeria, Maestro Theatre Nigeria, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Wazobia Theatre House, 1000 Stories Series. Un World Food Program, International Organization on Migration (IOM) for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support for return migrants among others.
What was the turning point when you became ecologically aware and decided to take action?
Having read Tanja Beer's work on Ecoscenography triggered my interest in designing performance stage with materials other than the conventional stage design materials. In the year 2019 during a stage production in which I was appointed the Scene designer, I explored the concept of 'Bin to set' , a concept whereby discarded waste materials found their way back to the theatre for the beautification of the performance space, after a successful outing, my journey into experimentating with other materials like the strict dependence on boidegradables for stage set, building stage with materials whose after stage life does not pose any danger of threat to our ecosystem.