Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Scholarly interest in J.P. Clark's Once Upon Four Robbers has remained strong, reflecting its continued relevance to discussions of Nigerian and African literary identity.

Existing criticism of Once Upon Four Robbers tends to focus on its broader thematic concerns, with stagecraft as a stylistic device in service of gender roles receiving comparatively less sustained attention.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

While J.P. Clark's Once Upon Four Robbers is widely studied, there is no settled critical consensus on how its stagecraft functions specifically in relation to gender roles. This study undertakes a close textual analysis to address that gap.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the use of stagecraft in J.P. Clark's Once Upon Four Robbers.
2. To analyze how stagecraft contributes to the portrayal of gender roles.
3. To assess the effectiveness of stagecraft as a stylistic/thematic tool in the text.
4. To situate the findings within the broader context of Nigerian literary/linguistic scholarship.

1.4 Research Questions

1. How is stagecraft used in J.P. Clark's Once Upon Four Robbers?
2. In what ways does stagecraft contribute to the portrayal of gender roles?
3. How effective is stagecraft as a stylistic/thematic tool in the text?
4. How does this reading relate to the broader body of Nigerian literary/linguistic scholarship?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to students and teachers of theatre arts, offering a close reading of J.P. Clark's Once Upon Four Robbers that can support classroom discussion and further critical work. It also contributes to the broader body of scholarship on Nigerian literary and linguistic studies.

1.6 Scope of the Study

The study is limited to a close textual analysis of stagecraft within Once Upon Four Robbers, reflecting a MSc-level scope; it does not extend to a full survey of the author's other works.