Theatre for Social Development

Where We Work > Afghanistan > Theatre for Social Development

Theatre for Social Development
2010-2012

The Theatre for Social Development project trained Afghan theatre companies to apply their art to social improvement and bring information to rural areas where illiteracy is high and people, especially women, have little access to information. The project has created four new women’s theatre troupes that reach women who are isolated by tradition, location, or incarceration. The goal is to build the capacity of local theatre organizations to provide educational services on an ongoing basis to their communities. In addition to theatre training, the program includes training in business skills and connections to NGOs and UN organizations that may use their services in the future. To date, the program has significantly expanded each company's reach.

In spring 2011, we worked with Simorgh Film & Theatre in Herat, and collaborated on the creation of two shows: Rahela's Bride, performed by the women's group, and The Lion's Pride, by and for men. Both plays addressed conflict resolution, focusing on family issues. The plays were presented at the Herat Women's Prison, juvenile correction centers, police trainings, drug rehab centers, youth centers, and schools.

We worked with White Star Company in Kabul in fall 2011, creating the first resident professional theatre company at Kabul University, and its first all-female theatre troupe. The groups created two performances: Rights are Not Given; They Are Taken (women's troupe) and Who Is Responsible? (men's troupe). The plays were followed by onstage audience participation to explore alternative solutions to the issues presented. The groups performed at the Women’s Prison, ANCOP (National Police), shelters, and organizations for youth.

In spring 2012, we worked with Nangarhar Theatre in Jalalabad. The Nangarhar team had been presenting social theatre in the troubled border region with Pakistan but, in accordance with tradition, had not included women in the troupe. BST created an all-female troupe, the first in the province, that performs solely for women. The groups created two performances addressing rule of law and women’s rights: The Law of the Jungle by the men, and Women Against Women, Women For Women by the women's troupe.

We conducted training for Kandahar Theatre in fall 2012, and also formed their first all-women's troupe, a first in the province. The women brought their play, The Backbiters, directly to women in their homes, the first time these women had a chance to witness live theatre. Sometimes the troupe were asked to do the show two or three times in one home. The men's group presented Old Ways, New Law, addressing domestic violence.

In addition, BST conducted a two-week training for a new youth theatre company, Papyrus Theatre of Kabul in fall 2011. The goal was to improve their ability to devise plays that illuminate social issues, and develop their ability to design and administer programs, especially for women and girls.

Theatre for Social Development program staff includes: Joanna Sherman, Michael McGuigan, Anna Zastrow, Kayhan Irani, Sahar Muradi, Monireh Hashemi, and Sayed Karim Zhwandoon.