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Puppetry for Development

Puppetry for Development. By Cariad Astles For ISTA London TaPS 3, January 2012. Where can they be seen?. Used all over the world Used primarily in situations where there is a specific ‘ development ’ issue, but also used for play and entertainment

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Puppetry for Development

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  1. Puppetry for Development By Cariad Astles For ISTA London TaPS 3, January 2012

  2. Where can they be seen? • Used all over the world • Used primarily in situations where there is a specific ‘development’ issue, but also used for play and entertainment • Mainly used in Africa where Theatre for Development is well known and practised • Used also where puppetry and mask theatre is common

  3. Why use puppets? • Depersonalises characters involved – it’s the puppet speaking, not the individual • In some cases part of local cultural tradition • Many people are illiterate – puppets are visual • Involves community in making puppets, masks etc • Can be used to address sensitive issues such as HIV, voting rights, religious schools etc

  4. Examples of puppetry for development • In 1999 Edinburgh Puppet Company was funded by Save the Children to run a project in three Latin American countries: Peru, Brazil and Cuba.

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

  6. ‘Salohy’ • ‘Salohy – Magic Puppets’ in Madagascar • Collaborating with Family Planning and AIDS prevention • Puppets used for health promotion

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

  8. Mali • Puppets well established • Most puppetry concerned with traditional festive and ritual procession and dance • Some groups using puppets and masks for development

  9. Troupe Mongnon (Flame of Liberty) – Maoua Kone • Makes shows about exploitation of children, abuse experienced by children in religious schools, child trafficking, skin-whitening • Has received death threats from marabouts • Traditionally, performance in Africa includes both education and entertainment and is for all sectors of the population, not just children

  10. Small World Theatre • Has worked all over the world with local communities • Tanzanian project investigating women voting rights and presence in local government • Techniques drawn from participatory theatre and puppetry • Local participants saw it as a skills-share as giant stilted figures used in performance

  11. Summary • Puppetry for development uses puppets to explore an issue of local concern to the community: race, voting, health etc • Performance should include interaction, discussion and attempts at decision-making • Training and advocacy to ensure continuity of development are part of the techniques • Local materials and techniques are used

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