Puppetry for DevelopmentPuppetry for Development

By Cariad AstlesBy Cariad AstlesFor ISTA London TaPS 3, January 2012For ISTA London TaPS 3, January 2012

Where can they be seen?Where can they be seen?

Used all over the worldUsed all over the world

Used primarily in situations where there is Used primarily in situations where there is a specific ‘development’ issue, but also a specific ‘development’ issue, but also used for play and entertainmentused for play and entertainment

Mainly used in Africa where Theatre for Mainly used in Africa where Theatre for Development is well known and practisedDevelopment is well known and practised

Used also where puppetry and mask Used also where puppetry and mask theatre is commontheatre is common

Why use puppets?Why use puppets?

Depersonalises characters involved – it’s the Depersonalises characters involved – it’s the puppet speaking, not the individual puppet speaking, not the individual

In some cases part of local cultural traditionIn some cases part of local cultural tradition

Many people are illiterate – puppets are visualMany people are illiterate – puppets are visual

Involves community in making puppets, masks Involves community in making puppets, masks etcetc

Can be used to address sensitive issues such Can be used to address sensitive issues such as HIV, voting rights, religious schools etcas HIV, voting rights, religious schools etc

Examples of puppetry for Examples of puppetry for developmentdevelopment

In 1999 Edinburgh Puppet Company was In 1999 Edinburgh Puppet Company was funded by Save the Children to run a funded by Save the Children to run a project in three Latin American countries: project in three Latin American countries: Peru, Brazil and Cuba. Peru, Brazil and Cuba.

Nairobi, Community Health and Awareness Nairobi, Community Health and Awareness Puppeteers (CHAPS) : 40 troupes around Kenya. Puppeteers (CHAPS) : 40 troupes around Kenya. Interactive shows about corruption, HIV/AIDS, Interactive shows about corruption, HIV/AIDS, gender issues.gender issues.Festivals of educational puppetry, conducted in Festivals of educational puppetry, conducted in public places like parks, feature 20-minute stories public places like parks, feature 20-minute stories rooted in the reality of life. For example, one play rooted in the reality of life. For example, one play depicts a rich man swindling poor villagers into depicts a rich man swindling poor villagers into paying for water they once collected free of paying for water they once collected free of charge; another involves a father trying to marry charge; another involves a father trying to marry off his 14-year-old daughter.off his 14-year-old daughter.

‘‘Salohy’Salohy’

‘‘Salohy – Magic Puppets’ in MadagascarSalohy – Magic Puppets’ in Madagascar

Collaborating with Family Planning and Collaborating with Family Planning and AIDS preventionAIDS prevention

Puppets used for health promotionPuppets used for health promotion

Puppets perform traditional Malagasy folk tales, Puppets perform traditional Malagasy folk tales, combined with health promotion and family combined with health promotion and family planningplanningPuppets able to talk about sexual subjects and Puppets able to talk about sexual subjects and demonstrate use of condoms without it being demonstrate use of condoms without it being uncomfortableuncomfortableEach sequence interrupted for discussion with Each sequence interrupted for discussion with the audiencethe audience

MaliMali

Puppets well establishedPuppets well established

Most puppetry concerned with traditional Most puppetry concerned with traditional festive and ritual procession and dancefestive and ritual procession and dance

Some groups using puppets and masks Some groups using puppets and masks for developmentfor development

Troupe Mongnon (Flame of Liberty) Troupe Mongnon (Flame of Liberty) – Maoua Kone– Maoua Kone

Makes shows about exploitation of children, Makes shows about exploitation of children, abuse experienced by children in religious abuse experienced by children in religious schools, child trafficking, skin-whiteningschools, child trafficking, skin-whitening

Has received death threats from maraboutsHas received death threats from marabouts

Traditionally, performance in Africa includes both Traditionally, performance in Africa includes both education and entertainment and is for all education and entertainment and is for all sectors of the population, not just childrensectors of the population, not just children

Small World TheatreSmall World Theatre

Has worked all over the world with local Has worked all over the world with local communitiescommunities

Tanzanian project investigating women voting Tanzanian project investigating women voting rights and presence in local governmentrights and presence in local government

Techniques drawn from participatory theatre and Techniques drawn from participatory theatre and puppetrypuppetry

Local participants saw it as a skills-share as Local participants saw it as a skills-share as giant stilted figures used in performancegiant stilted figures used in performance

SummarySummary

Puppetry for development uses puppets to Puppetry for development uses puppets to explore an issue of local concern to the explore an issue of local concern to the community: race, voting, health etccommunity: race, voting, health etcPerformance should include interaction, Performance should include interaction, discussion and attempts at decision-makingdiscussion and attempts at decision-makingTraining and advocacy to ensure continuity of Training and advocacy to ensure continuity of development are part of the techniquesdevelopment are part of the techniquesLocal materials and techniques are usedLocal materials and techniques are used