ABSTRACT
Theories of change increasingly are promoted as something needed by every programme and evaluation, in all possible situations. But is there really a universal need for a theory of change? This essay, using an operatic analogy, observes that while theories of change in many situations can be very valuable, this is not always the case and that, in practice, few theories of change are actually used or are helpful—and in some cases they can be detrimental. The essay identifies some key considerations when contemplating the use of theories of change so that when and if they are used, they are used appropriately, in a way that will add value to programme planning and to evaluation.
