ABSTRACT
This chapter highlights two sets of productions that show different ways of engaging with applied performance. All of the examples discussed in detail are plays or theatre productions; they are the predominant activity in the field of applied performance. Burkina Faso depends heavily on budgetary aid from countries of the Global North. Since the 1980s, applied performance has been a constituent part of theatre in Burkina Faso and one reliable source of income for the companies. The chapter provides different examples of applied performances, talking about texts, shows and reception wherever possible. Examples comprise forum plays as well as productions created for an applied performance setting, yet performed for various audiences. The chapter aims to focus on two recurring issues: gold mining and the position of women. Unlike plays on mining, plays that discuss the situation of women are much more likely to fit within a Theatre for Development scheme because they discuss societal attitudes that could be changed.
