Acting up for Social Change By: Kim Allen

Street theatre is a form of theatrical performance and presentation in outdoor public spaces without a specific paying audience. These spaces can be anywhere, including shopping centers, car parks, recreational reserves and street corners. ...

Street theatre is a form of theatrical performance and presentation in outdoor public spaces without a specific paying audience. These spaces can be anywhere, including shopping centers, car parks, recreational reserves and street corners. ...

This play is about villagers in Tirunelveli, TN, India, forced to migrate to the cities , were they will face inhumane treatment by the authorities - namely the police and politicians.

This play is about villagers in Tirunelveli, TN, India, forced to migrate to the cities , were they will face inhumane treatment by the authorities - namely the police and politicians.

STRENGTHS OF THIS TACTIC IN SOCIAL CHANGE Uses comedy and drama to get the message across Educate and make people aware of issues Non – Intrusive message Allows audience to have a more emotional connection to the message because it’s theatre Can be entertainment

Uses comedy and drama to get the message across

Educate and make people aware of issues

Non – Intrusive message

Allows audience to have a more emotional connection to the message because it’s theatre

Can be entertainment

Because of delivery mechanism the message i.e. theatre, the audience may not take it serious The key message sometimes gets lost in the entertaining aspect of methodology If the expectation of audience is entertainment they may be turned off by the message depending on subject matter Given that social change occurs over time by way of traditional entertainment has a lower engagement frequency the message may not be remembered by the audience

Because of delivery mechanism the message i.e. theatre, the audience may not take it serious

The key message sometimes gets lost in the entertaining aspect of methodology

If the expectation of audience is entertainment they may be turned off by the message depending on subject matter

Given that social change occurs over time by way of traditional entertainment has a lower engagement frequency the message may not be remembered by the audience