We are a collective of artists in Zambia and Tanzania who create exciting and vibrant theatre to address pressing issues in the community
PHILOSOPHY
We believe:
- Human beings and bio-diversity can co-exist peacefully
- Culture is a critical aspect of any development programme
- A well-conceived theatre piece can do in 15 minutes what 3000 hectares of flipcharts cannot achieve
- Educational theatre does not need to patronize, over simplify or lecture its audience People are the agents of their own change
- Communities, no matter how poor, marginalised or dispossessed comprise of people. These people are capable of generating their own solutions. They have a voice, (it just needs to reach the right people). They have solutions (they just need to be heard)
- Laughter is a way to make intimidating issues more manageable
BACKGROUND TO SEKA
Seka Theatre was initiated in the South Luangwa National Park, in eastern Zambia and has since expanded to Tanzania.
We are a collective of artists who create theatre to address pressing issues in the community. We believe in changing circumstances by changing minds and changing minds through the arts – theatre and stories in particular.
We use theatre to generate debate within communities and amongst stakeholders in the targeted areas.
By living in the targeted areas for a length of time the actor-researchers are able to fully understand the issues at stake before creating plays to address these issues.
A combination of action research and participatory theatre is used to sensitise and educate communities on various important social and environmental issues. In addition we use theatre as an interactive research tool, which can be used to identify and channel information from communities to government, development organizations, and other decision-making bodies. We raise awareness and provide the catalyst for community mobilisation.
The participatory nature of the performances allows the audience to take ownership of their issues as well as to suggest and implement the solutions to these issues.
Our theatrical use of humour, visual imagery, puppets, and local song and dance forms has earned us a reputation as an effective channel for the vocalising of community concerns.
Our participatory research methodologies ensure that we get good results and are well respected in our areas of operation.
