Theatre For Development

Several years ago Bengal Creative Media began to hold theatre-based training seminars and workshops for our clients.  What was once almost an afterthought has now become one of our leading components.  It allows us to multiply our efforts by offering training to NGO’s, local community theatre clubs, etc. to participate with us in transformational development.  This component has equipped and enabled people to present educational concepts in ways that the audience can relate and respond to.  At the same time the training and practical experience provides aspiring artists with an awareness of their own potential, giving them the necessary confidence and skills to be agents of change and contributors in society. 

In detail, the method provides the local community with a sense of ownership in the educational process as they bring awareness to relevant issue to their area.  The method helps uncover:

Core social values

Felt needs

Existing social problems

Workshops begin by trained facilitators using a dramatic technique called “Theatre for Development” (TFD).  This method highlights how social issues can be presented in a way that allows the audience to participate along with the artists in coming up with solutions to the acute problems affecting their community. 

Upon completion, teams are sent out to given target areas to collect stories within a community.  Once analysed and discussed, stories are reworked for a stage performances and presented within the communities they were collected from.  Audiences see first hand how values, felt needs and social problems can be observed and changed.

Transformational Change...

A quote from a CARE staff  member... “When I took the role (acting) and placed myself in someone else’s status, it made me realize how I could do things differently”.  He exchanged roles with a poor landless field laborer aslo acting in the presentation.  In the past he wouldn’t offer his field to be used by the disadvantaged during Amon season, when most wealthy farmers don’t plant because of the monsoon.  After acting out his role he understood the problems poor laborers face and vowed he would begin to let them use his fields free of charge during that season.