To use Theatre for Development (TfD) as a method for learning for sustainable development has, according to among others Kees Eskamp, for decades been seen as an important tool to enable communities in self-development. TfD can assist in improving people’s awareness of their own possibilities, make a difference in their life situation and, at the same time, contribute toward sustainable development of communities on a local as well as a global scale. A theatre process can raise awareness of issues that are an obstacle for sustainable development or of ways to reach sustainable development goals.
Non-governmental organizations, NGOs, are playing an increasing role in civil societies across the globe and have come to acknowledge the key roles of communication and creativity in any effective strategy for self-development. This realization has brought with it theatre for development as a method that is participatory, not resource-intensive and not dependent upon the literacy of its participants or audience.
SWEDESD wants to broaden the TfD concept and wishes to explore the possibilities of Stage Art as an innovative tool/method for ESD. We do not wish to reinvent the wheel once again, but build on existing and well-proven insights and practical experiences. We want to investigate what role SWEDESD can play in contributing to the field of Stage Art as a method for ESD. We aim to find out what has been done before and what can be foreseen in the future.
As a first step to explore the field of Stage Art for ESD, SWEDESD arranged three activities during Almedalen Week in Visby in July 2010. In all three activities we cooperated with the theatre group, Teater Barbara, which will be performing the climate change farce, FROSSA. There will also be a panel debate titled Stage Art for a better world – is stage art a pedagogic tool for sustainable development?
More about the activities during Almedalen Week may be found here.
Read more:
Kees Eskamp. Theatre for Development: An Introduction to Context, Applications and Training. Zed Books, December 2006.
Example of a succesful case:
Theatre for Development
