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In 2000 Artistic directors, Ann Shrosbree and Bill Hamblett worked with Tanzanian theatre groups using drama as research to explore the reasons that may prevent people, in particular women, from participating in the forthcoming election by voting and standing as candidates

In October 2000 Tanzania is having its second ever multi-party election. SWT in partnership with the British Council, Tanzania, are collaborating with a group of Tanzanian performers to share expertise and develop skills which will use the arts to help poor people understand their rights better.

The use of participatory theatre as a research tool and the introduction of life size puppets of women into the process has enabled people living in poor communities around Dar es Salaam to create the stories which reflect their lives.

This man is deeply engaged in discussion with the puppet. His and over 100 other peoples stories and comments have become part of performances which the actors later replay to larger audiences in those communities. Audiences are joining in, changing the play, arguing with the characters and each other and generally exploring the nature of democracy.

A larger than life puppet figure, "Bwana Democracia", chairs the proceedings and provides factual information such as who is eligible, how and where to register etc. As the large puppet head is revealed, the actors arms in the puppet's sleeves start to animate and his voice booms out, younger members of the audience scatter with squeals of fear and delight while those of voting age hear how Mr Democracy is weak and has come to find out why the people of Kunduchi and Mbagala are not interested in voting. He is only strong when people participate. The performance uses characters created by the community in the theatre research process using real stories. These include:

a woman with a small business selling doughnuts from a roadside stall who waits for a long promised loan until a road widening scheme destroys her modest enterprise,
another woman who is furious when she has her lighted cooking stove stolen from outside her house when she goes inside to fetch a pan. Fierce debate within the audience as to the reasons for an increase in petty crime usually follows,
a young woman who is a teacher and wants to stand as a candidate has a hard time convincing her father that women can be leaders. Some women in the audience support her and others say it is unnatural for a woman to have demanding work which takes her away from home,
Fishermen hold an auction of mime fish on a real beach with participation from 800 or so people who are also discussing the pros and cons of fishing versus voting on polling day, and
A corrupt politician bribes the audience and makes impossible promises like beer in the taps (there are taps but no water supply in some of the communities) and changing the direction of the wind (to blow away air pollution from a concrete factory which causes health problems).

The crowds are gathered with drumming and singing and that international trademark of electoral campaigns - the squeaky megaphone!. Expecting a political speech or partisan message theatre, people in these communities have expressed their appreciation of this voter education initiative saying “ this is a new thing for us, no one came to find out what we think before, I hope this will be the future.”

The Tanzanian group is now funded via the British Council Tanzania to continue during the pre-election period. Promoting participation by poor people in democratic processes is an important part of the British Council’s governance work.

SWT are hoping to return to Tanzania and build on the work with participatory theatre methodology, capacity building with more local partners and passing on skills in puppetry and other techniques.

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SMALL WORLD THEATRE

TANZANIA VOTER EDUCATION