Students learn theatre-based methods for social change

Apoorva Jogi

Over five days, 30 students from 10 colleges of the Royal University of Bhutan and three Technical Training Institutes stepped onto the stage, learning how to transform theatre into a tool for advocacy and social change.

The Act Out for Impact workshop, held from December 9 to 14, introduced the participants to interactive theatre techniques designed to challenge societal norms and address behavioural issues.

The training covered theoretical foundations of theatre-based advocacy, as well as hands-on methods such as improvisation, creative movement, role-playing, and audience engagement, among others.

The initiative focused on raising awareness about Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) topics.

The participants, all members of the Youth Peer Education Network (Y-PEER), were also trained in theatrical skills to creatively and interactively convey messages on issues such as cyberbullying, mental health, gender-based violence, and teenage pregnancy.

The workshop was facilitated by three experts from Jordan’s National Centre for Culture and Arts (NCCA)—Director General Lina Tal, Arts and Culture Manager Mohanned A. A., and Senior Development Programme Manager and choreographer Rainia Kamhawi—alongside Bhutanese co-facilitator Kinga Wangchuk.

Known for its innovative use of performing arts for education and advocacy, the NCCA has conducted similar programmes worldwide, including a recent training session in Bangkok

The Bhutanese co-facilitator, Kinga Wangchuk was trained in Thailand and joined the team to guide the participants.

The training was organised by the Programme and Youth Coordination Division (PYCD) of the Ministry of Education and Skills Development in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund.

“Until now, Y-PEER advocated SRHR topics like gender-based violence, mental health, and sexually transmitted infections using traditional peer-to-peer methods. This training introduces theatre as a dynamic tool to further amplify these messages,” said Dechen Tshomo, Assistant Program Officer of PYCD. 

Divided into three groups, participants selected advocacy topics close to their hearts: cyberbullying, mental health, and teenage pregnancy. Under expert guidance, they developed and refined performances that showcased their newfound skills in dramatic storytelling and interactive theatre.“This is the first time we have conducted a theatre-based advocacy programme, and the response has been remarkable. The participants embraced the challenge and produced meaningful acts that reflect real-life issues,” she said.

The workshop culminated in a performance showcase, where participants presented three original acts: What About Me, Shattered Promises, and The Silent Echoes.

“Using drama made the issues we are addressing feel more real and relatable,” said one participant. “It is a creative way to reach people, especially youth, in ways that traditional methods might not.”

The participants are expected to replicate the theatre-based approach in their respective colleges and communities.

(Additional reporting by Rohan Rai and Bineka Gurung)