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Theatre Arts for Advanced Secondary Schools

Theatre for Social Change (TfSC) is a community-based process of theatre
production that involves research, analysis and finding solutions to social
and developmental problems. It is also a research-based approach that uses
community’s art in addressing challenges that hinder development of people in
a given community. Normally, TfSC is done in a workshop manner, and it may
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last for one or two weeks in a community at which the event is organised. It is
used as a tool for identifying social problems, raising community awareness,
bringing about social sensitisation and instilling community conscientisation.
TfSC therefore is crucial in resolving issues and addressing challenges that in
some ways delay development in a specific community.

The history of Theatre for Social Change in Tanzania goes way back to 1970’s
when theatre professionals and practitioners such as Penina Mlama, Eberhard
Chambulikazi, Godwin Kaduma, Amandina Lihamba, Ghonche Materego and
Juma Bakari, among others, adopted the practice from Brazilian Augusto Boal’s
approach of community theatre. The approach emphasises people’s involvement
in finding solutions for their own social problems and coming up together for
their community’s development. The approach used, in most cases, was Theatre
for Development (TfD) which was applied in many projects and workshops.
These workshops were conducted in various parts of Tanzania. Those workshops
were held in communities such as Mallya in Simiyu, Msoga in Pwani (Coast)
and Mkambarani in Morogoro. Workshops for TfSC whether through TfD or any
other approach are usually facilitated by theatre practitioners and professionals
who are recognized as facilitators or catalysts during the workshops. Usually,
a team of facilitators visits a community of interest and in collaboration with
community members, they organise TfSC workshop through a well stipulated
process.

Activity 1.6

Use library and online sources to search for information on the emergence
and development of Theatre for Social Change in Tanzania.

17 Form Five

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