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John K Djisenu is a Senior Lecturer in the in the Department of Theatre arts he was a Visiting Scholar, Department of Theatre and Film Studies, University of Cape Coast (UCC, Ghana) August 1, 2011 to July 2012. where he Lectured in History of the Theatre in Africa and Europe, as well as Stage Lighting, Scenic Design and Costume. Also undertook research in Second Cycle Schools’ Theatre. John was also Visiting Scholar, Literature Department, Kenyatta University. Nairobi, Kenya (2002-2004). Lectured in Directing, Introduction to the Theatre, African Drama, and History of the Theatre in Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome and Europe. Also researched into Kenyan Schools Theatre.

Education

  • M.A. in Theatre (Aug. 1989 - May 1991, Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia).
  • Design projects executed along with writing a thesis: ‘Forms of Theatre in Ghana: The Place of Rituals, Rites or Ceremonies
  • 3-Year Diploma in Drama and Theatre Studies (July, 1984). University of Ghana, Legon. Accra Teachers' Certificate 'A' (4 –year: Sept. 1971-75). [Distinction in Internal and External Examinations]  St. Andrew's Training College, Mampong-Ashanti

Research Interests

  • Analysis and Interpretation of African Plays.
  • The Scope of Drama and Theatre.
  • Narrative Drama in Ghana.
  • Myth and African Theatre.
  • History and Development of Theatre in Ghana.
  • Theatre in Kenyan Schools. 
  • Theatre in Ghanaian Schools.
  • National Theatres in Africa 

Projects and Consultances

1.Technical Theatre Consultant for the Cultural Initiative Support Programme under the Auspices of the National Commission on Culture of Ghana. Funded by the EU (April18-23, 2008).
2. Technical Theatre Consultant for the Kenya National Theatre, Nairobi, Kenya. The Technical Report culminated in a refurbishment of the Kenya National Theatre (July 2002).
3. Proposals Backed by Ground Plan Drawings for Indoor and Outdoor Theatre facilities of the Literature Dept., Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya (May 2002).
4. Proposals for the Conversion of the Basketball Court of the Bomas of Kenya into an Indoor Theatre, Nairobi, Kenya (Sept. 2002).
5. Lighting Design and Execution for PANAFEST, Cape Coast, Ghana (Aug. 2001).
6. Technical Co-ordination, Design and Execution of PANAFEST Stages in Cape Coast Castle Courtyard, Ghana (December, 1992 and 94).
7. Technical Data on the National Theatre of Ghana, including Technical Drawings (1994 

Workshops, seminars, public Lectures & conferences

1.United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) Conference and Stage Expo, Charlotte NC, USA (March 9-12, 2011). Benefitted from innovative teaching methods, new software, technology application and documentation of performances.

2. School of Graduate and Research Workshop for Heads of Departments at Wetlands Auditorium, U.G (March 25, 2009).

3. Coordinator for a Third Study Tour of Ghana by 9 students of the University of New York at Stony Brook. The Programme Contributed over $7,000.00 to the University Guest Centre (January 3 -19, 2009).

4. Organized a Workshop for 42 Participants Drawn from Centres of National Culture all over the ten (10) Regions of Ghana. Organized for the Cultural Initiative Support Programme (Under the Auspices of the National Commission on Culture, Funded by European Union): (April 18-23, 2008

5. Quality Assurance Workshop for Heads of Departments, Staff Resource Centre, UG, Legon (2008).

6. Coordinator for a Second Study Tour of Ghana by 11 students of the University of New York at Stony Brook. The Programme Contributed over $10,000.00 to the University Guest Centre (January 4 -19, 2008).

7. Coordinator for a Study Tour of Ghana by 26 students of the University of New York at Stony Brook. The Programme Contributed over $20,000.00 to the University Guest Centre (January 4 -19, 2007).

8. 2nd - 9th Annual Faculty of Arts Colloquia, IAS/Great Hall, UG, Legon (2004 - 2011). Chaired two sessions on Theatre.

9. The Paper below was re-worked and tabled at Open University Conference in May 2004, under the theme: ‘The Reception of the Texts and Images of Ancient Greece in Late Twentieth-Century Drama and Poetry in English.’ (Open University, UK).

10. Department of Theatre Arts Seminar 2000-2001. Paper read: Cross-Cultural Bonds between Ancient Greece and Africa: Implications for Contemporary Staging Practices.’
(Nov. 2000. Legon).

11. Black History Month: Main Speaker on ‘African Consciousness.’ Efua Sutherland Drama Studio, Legon (February 1998).

12. A Resource Person for a Workshop by Ghana Union of Theatre Societies on Stage Management (February 1, 1997, Accra).

13. The Coordinator of Drama Workshop for the Gulf of Guinea (A.D.G.G). Held at the School of Performing Arts, Legon, for participants from Ghana, Togo, Benin, Bourkina Faso, Nigeria, Mali, Central Africa and France (February 9-23, 1997).

14. Intra-Faculty Lecturer, Faculty of Arts. Paper read: ‘The Scope of Drama and its Associated Controversies in the Ghanaian Theatre Context.’ (July 5, 1994).

15. A Resource Person for Ghana Association of Writers' Creative Writing Seminar. Paper Read: 'Useful Political Lessons from The Trial of Mallam Ilya' (A play written by Mohammed Ben Abdallah. September 1992. Accra).

PUBLICATIONS:
Book Chapter:

Djisenu, John. 2007. Cross-Cultural Bonds Between Ancient Greece and Africa: Implications for Contemporary Staging Practices. In Classics in Post-Colonial Worlds, ed. Lorna Hardwick and Carol Gillespie, 72-85. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Journal Articles

  • Djisenu, John. 1999-2001. Some Controversies Associated with Drama in the Ghanaian Traditional Context. Legon Journal of the Humanities, ed. E. Kweku Osam, Vol. 12: 75-87. 
  • Djisenu, John. 2000. Essay on Ghanaian Drama. Black Arts Quarterly, ed. Solange Jacobs, Vol. 5, issue 1 (Spring): 12-14. Standford University’s Committee on Black Performing Arts Publication.
  • Djisenu, John. 2000. The Art of Narrative Drama. Fontomfrom: Contemporary Ghanaian Literature, Theatre and Film, ed. Kofi Anyidoho and James Gibbs, 37-43. (MATATU 21-22) Amsterdam, Atlanta GA: Editions Rodopi.

Critical Review Article
Djisenu, John K. 1998-1999. Some Political Lessons from Abdallah’s ‘The Trial of Mallam Ilya.’ Journal of Performing Arts, ed. Nissio Fiagbdedzi, Vol .3, no. 1: 18-22.

Book Review Article:

6. Djisenu, John K. 1997. African Popular Theatre from Pre-Colonial Times to the Present Day by David Kerr. In The Journal of Modern African Studies, ed. David Kimble, Vol. 35, no. 4 (December):773-776 [A Quarterly Survey of Politics, Economics &Related Topics in Contemporary Africa] Cambridge University Press.

7. Djisenu, John K. 1996. Performance Spaces and Institutional Organisation in Ghana. Journal of Performing Arts, ed. Nissio Fiagbedzi, Vol. 2, no.1 (June): 22-28.

8. Djisenu, John K. 1995. The Art of Drama. Legon Journal of Humanities, ed. Alex K. Dzameshie, Vol. VII: 55-62

USC, Columbia Productions

  • Designed and Constructed Costumes for Main Stage Dance Production of the University of South Carolina: Scheherazade (Feb. 1991).
  • Directed Woza Albert (Barney, Mtwa and Mbongeni) Nov. 1990. Booker T. Washington Auditorium, USC, Columbia.
  • Summer Repertory Fellowship to assist in Costume Construction for these Columbian Shows (1990): Driving Miss Daisy (Alfred Uhry); The Mystery of Irma Vep (Charles Ludlam); The Cocktail Hour (A.R. Gurney); Alice in Wonderland (Lind Putman). 
  • Also assisted in Costume Construction for the following main stage Productions of the U.S.C (1989–91): Tartuffe (Moliere); The Great White Hope (Howard Sackler); Kiss Me Kate (Porter, Sam and Spewach); Les Laisons Dangereuses (Christopher Hampton); The Tempest (Shakespeare); The Fantasticks (Tom Jones); Genesis (Antoon and Montgomery); Breaking the Code (Hugh whitemore); The Threepenny Opera (Brecht); Season’s Greetings (Alan Aycbourn); Booth (John MacNicholas); Waiting for the Parade (John Murrel); and also for the Dancers of the Spring Gala Dance