Sierra Leone: theatre for development. How an experiment in community theatre led to changes in the outlook of both village people and development workers
Malamah Thomas, D.H.
RRDC Bulletin, Reading Rural Development Communications 23: 9-13
1988
Document Number: 338670
'Theatre for development' has appeared in several African countries over the past 30 years in various forms, some of which are described. Early attempts to use drama for community or adult education in Sierra Leone failed to involve village people either in analysis of their own problems or in drama making. A two-week workshop held at Telu, Bo District, in November 1986 was Sierra Leone's first experiment in the use of community theatre as a means of participatory research. The article gives details of workshop participants, objectives, preliminary planning, and the conduct of the workshop itself. The workshop proved to be a holistic learning experience for both advisers and village communities. In particular, the village-level workers (of various disciplines and from various agencies) who took part in the workshop came to see their role as animators rather than directors.