Theatre helps teach valuable life skills
THEATRE has always been a powerful educational medium. Realising this power, Arepp Educational Trust — a non-governmental organisation — has been using theatre for social education for years. Arepp is currently taking Look before You Leap, which is targeted at 15- to 18-year-olds and Don’t Think So!, aimed at 13- to14-year-olds to schools around the country.
The shows provide information on Aids and sexuality in a modern setting filled with popular music, slang, dancing and a cast of precocious youngsters. ”The skills we teach are life skills, which generally give the kids the means to take decisions about life for themselves,” Gordon Bilrough, general manager of Arepp, says.
Don’t Think So! uses simple language and relies heavily on audience interaction. It focuses on self-image, relationships and Aids, and explodes myths about the disease (one character believes he will ward off Aids just by carrying a condom around with him). The play also tackles the use of sex as a bargaining tool (with a scheming teacher blackmailing a character for sex). The way the characters handle various situations gives the audience insight into unacceptable behaviour and ways to deal with it.
Look Before You Leap has a louder, ”in your face” style, with characters who are typical, funky high school students with important sexual decisions to make. ”The themes deal with the topics of sexuality and relationships, as well as the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy. The plays also look at the importance of relationships,” Bilrough says. ”We also try to portray women in empowered positions.” An important part of the programme is where the audience gets to ask the cast questions after each play. ”The most frequently asked questions are about things that affect students personally, like: ‘Should I have sex with my boyfriend? Is there a cure for Aids?”’ says Vusi Mpela, one of the longest-serving cast members.
”We find that the audience identifies with the characters and quickly gets over the initial fear of not wanting to ask questions. Then they ask a lot. In the beginning they are usually shy, then the team asks standard questions and the kids use that as a springboard,” says Bilrough. If the cast can’t help, pupils are told about the Aids helpline, which can.
The plays have generally been well received. ”Kids are usually okay. Sometimes in conservative areas the use of slang is frowned on. We explain to them that it’s the language that kids use. Very conservative schools don’t book us, though,” Bilrough says.
The schools that have booked the plays are apparently very pleased with them, with many of them calling Arepp back. Bilrough says the plays have been effective because they don’t preach to the kids.
It has been difficult to measure the impact of the plays. ”Schools remember the shows and want us back. There’s been a definite change in awareness but we can’t say there’s been a behavioural change,” says Bilrough.
— The Teacher/Mail & Guardian, April 10, 2000.