Creativity, participation and change in Theatre for Development practice

All over the world, whenever Theatre for Development (TfD) ¹ is practised, it defines itself as an alternative practice; and the agenda it pursues always is that of change. The notion of other is quite strong in TfD’s definition of itself and its role. It is also significant that in its practice ‘otherness’ is central to TfD’s discursive strategy, first in its artistic form and, secondly in the issues and participants involved in it. However, the end point to this exploration of the alternative, and the ‘other’ as an instrument of alienation and subjugation, is to seek a point of equilibrium or change. It is the conduct of the journey from the point of disjunction to where a resolution, no matter how tenuous, may be achieved that is at the centre of TfD practice.