Theatre for Development
This edition of The Soul Beat looks at the use of theatre for development and features a range of related summarised project descriptions, strategic thinking documents, resource materials and organisations from the Soul Beat network. The newsletter highlights how theatre and performance can be used to communicate on issues such as health and HIV/AIDS, gender, human rights, peace-building and governance.
1. Atelier-Théâtre Burkinabè (ATB) - Burkina Faso
This organisation consists of a group of volunteer actors and actresses who use theatre to educate, sensitise, and entertain citizens of Burkina Faso. Live performances cover issues such as health, rural development, human rights, education and socio-economic issues such as international trade and access to basic social services. The organisation also aims to foster theatre for development in Burkina Faso and on the African continent as a whole.
Contact M. Kompaore Prosper. proskom@fasonet.bf
2. Amani Peoples Theatre (APT) - Kenya
This is an organisation that brings together volunteer trainers to use their talents, skills and experiences to employ interactive participatory theatre for conflict transformation, peace-building and development in Kenya. The APT process integrates education, entertainment and research in exploring context-specific issues on conflict and development while at the same time assisting in the community's search for creative, non-violent responses.
Contact Michael O. Owiso owiso@aptkenya.org OR apt@aptkenya.org
3. Laphum'Ilanga Theatre Project - South Africa
This is a participatory arts project run by Mothertongue - a women's organisation that explores keys to the empowerment of women and practical processes of healing and transformation through arts - and the United Nations Development Fund for Women. Through theatre workshops and community performances the project aims to explore the issues of gender-based violence and HIV/AIDS and raise awareness about the link between gender-based violence and HIV transmission.
Contact info@mothertongue.co.za
4. Alertos Da Vida - South Africa
This is a community youth group based in Johannesburg that creates media and performing theatre in Portuguese for Mozambicans living in South Africa. The group uses edutainment including live theatre dramas, radio (dramas and spots) and music to provide information about issues such HIV/AIDS, health, human rights and children's issues. The theatrical productions and music are usually presented in association with existing events in order to add a Portuguese language element, as well as encourage the recognition of diversity in the community.
Contact Tonya Graham tonya@cmfd.org
5. Tuseme Project Tanzania
This is a school-based theatre for development initiative that aims to empower girls to understand and overcome problems that can potentially hinder their academic and social development. It also aims to give them a voice to speak out and express their self-identified problems while at the same time allowing them to find solutions and take initiatives to resolve them. The initiative operates through the Tuseme girls support clubs, a newsletter, workshops and festivals.
Contact fpa@udsm.ac.tz
6. Winter/Summer Institute in Theatre for Development (WSI) - Lesotho
This collaborative effort by four universities from different continents aims to use theatre to address the issue of HIV and AIDS and the role of gossip and silence in the spread of HIV. The ultimate goal of the Institute is to empower both student and community participants with the tools and resources necessary to create similar theatre projects in their own communities and lives. The Institute, launched in June 2006 in Lesotho, Southern Africa, included students and faculty from the National University of Lesotho; the State University of New York, Empire State College, New York City, United States; the University of Sunderland, United Kingdom; and the University of the Witwatersrand, Republic of South Africa.
Contact Lucy Winner Lucy.Winner@esc.edu
7. Haba na Haba - Kenya
This is a community development project of the Mathere Youth Sports Association (MYSA), which promotes community development through Arts and Creative Education in Kenya. The project is organised through "vikundi" or art groups divided into different age groups who use music, dance, drama and acrobatics to share information with the community, and especially the youth, about the challenges they face. By involving the youth the project gives youth the opportunity to express themselves and to develop their artistic potential.
Contact George Ndiritu hanahaba@mysakenya.org
8. Talking Hands - South Africa
This programme uses entertaining yet educational strategies such as puppet theatre as a tool to develop awareness of issues related to alcoholism and drugs, violence, nutrition, dental care, HIV/AIDS, and unemployment. The programme also uses short plays to teach children and teenagers fundamental life skills and to break the barrier of silence surrounding HIV/AIDS. The project is based on the idea that art can be used to shift the culture of silence in the country, and to spur people out of a state of apathy. Puppets and theatre are seen as methods for transforming the dry didactic lesson materials into an opportunity where children can learn through play.
Contact canoncollins@iafrica.com OR info@canoncollins.org.uk
9. arepp: Theatre for Life - South Africa
This is an edutainment organisation which has been operating nationally in South Africa since 1987. Using live, dramatic presentations, arepp: Theatre for Life travels to schools providing interactive, social life-skills education to school-going youth, enabling informed choice and developing resilience within the youth. The content of the presentations aims to address the issues inherent in sexuality and the development of self-concept, self-image and self-esteem, and engages in the notions of choice making, responsibility, tolerance and adaptability.
Contact Brigid Schutz brigid@arepp.org.za
10. Educational Theatre at the Edge of the Crush: The Use of Theatre as Entertainment-Education in HIV and AIDS Awareness and Prevention in the South African Mining Sector
This paper examines the first phase of research into the use of theatre-in-education regarding HIV and AIDS in the South African Mining Sector. It highlights the challenges that are facing HIV and AIDS theatre-in-education programmes and explores the benefits of integrating cultural studies and theory into the design and implementation of the programme. It looks at the audience as the primary recipient of information and as the force for change.
11. Mchezewangoma becomes Mchezangoma: Kenyan Youth Empower their Peers to Adopt HIV Prevention Through Creative Ngoma Dialogue Circles
This paper describes the use of both participatory and grounded theory approaches to formulate Creative Ngoma Dialogue Circles (CNDC), which are 1- to 5-minute problem-posing pieces representing and problematising HIV/AIDS. Based on research undertaken in two Kenyan high schools, the author concludes that by building on local cultural practices, CNDC "combines a high potential to entertain, educate, and motivate attitude and behaviour change in contrast to conventional HIV/AIDS interventions that tend to be one or two-dimensional."
For more information on the role of theatre and the arts in development see these previous editions of The Soul Beat:
"Art for Social Change - June 14 2006
" Using Puppetry for Communication - June 22 2005
" Theatre - March 24 2004
***
12. Act, Learn and Teach: Theatre, HIV and AIDS Toolkit for Youth in Africa
This toolkit and associated material, including the CD-ROM provided, introduce the reader to Forum Theatre as a tool for HIV and AIDS education. The toolkit is aimed at youth groups and amateur theatre groups in English-speaking Africa who wish to address HIV and AIDS-related issues in ways that are creative and engaging.
13. Forum Theatre in HIV/AIDS Education [DVD]
This DVD presents an example of the interactive forum theatre method being used for creating debate and dialogue on HIV/AIDS themes such as stigmatisation, domestic violence, HIV testing and sexual abuse. The theatre production filmed for the DVD was a collaboration between Danish actor and dramaturge Peter Sloth Madsen and the Mozambican theatre group Hopangalatana in Maputo, Mozambique in January - March 2005.
14. The Vagina Monologues: A Theorised Understanding of its present and future role in the EE Context
The Vagina Monologues is a play that aims to address the issues of sexual violence and disempowerment in a provocative, entertaining manner. The script is based on interviews with over two hundred women about their personal experiences and includes topics such as genital mutilation, incest and rape. The play has spawned a grassroots movement, The V-Day Campaign, which aims to put an end to violence against women and girls in the global context. The body of this paper is based on observations and an analysis of two performances of The Vagina Monologues in March 2004 in South Africa and aims to assess - using Entertainment-Education (EE) principles and theories - the present and potential roles of the play in addressing the social problems it highlights.
15. Guide to Diagnostic Role Play
This manual was prepared to guide a pilot test that took place in Malawi, of a research method called Diagnostic Role Play (DRP). Diagnostic Role Play aims to be a new qualitative research method to help programmes learn more about important current behaviour and develop effective strategies that promote and support alternative behaviour that should result in improved health. The manual is now offered for use to programme planners and researchers in general.
MEDIA AND GOVERNANCE PULSE POLL
Please participate in our pulse poll.
Do you agree or disagree?
The media is having an impact on issues of governance and transparency in Africa by exposing corruption.
Click here to complete poll
***
20. Media and Children 5th World Summit (Mar 24-28 2007)
This conference aims to showcase the diversity of the global children's media environment with a focus on developing countries. It aims to provide a platform for debate, a forum for discussion and an opportunity to share best practices.
21. AfriComNet's Award for Excellence in HIV/AIDS Communication in Africa For HIV/AIDS communicators...
Deadline: March 16 2007
The African Network for Strategic Communication in Health and Development (AfriComNet) is calling for nominations for its Award for Excellence in HIV/AIDS Communication in Africa. The awards include categories on folk media and interpersonal/community-based communication and aims to reward outstanding initiatives, campaigns, productions and tools that advance the field of strategic communication.
***
The Soul Beat seeks to cover the full range of communication for development activities. Inclusion of an item does not imply endorsement or support by The Partners.
Please send material for The Soul Beat to the Editor - Anja Venth aventh@comminit.com
- Log in to post comments