Department of Drama

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Browsing Department of Drama by Author "Davis, Heloise Victoria"

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    Theatre as intervention tool in HIV/AIDS education with specific reference to “Lucky, the hero!”
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2012-03) Davis, Heloise Victoria; Kruger, M. S.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Drama.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: HIV/AIDS has escalated into a global health pandemic. Africa has emerged as the most severely affected continent with more than half of the world’s HIV infected population residing in Sub-Saharan Africa. Consequently various awareness campaigns have been launched in attempts to stifle the rapid spread of the pandemic. Much emphasis has been placed on communication as effective strategy specifically when it has a participatory and community-based approach which offers education through alternative ways of responding to HIV/AIDS in order to reach and involve the individual target audience. The value of entertainment as an effective intervention tool through which to inform and educate is of major importance. Theatre is widely implemented as a tool when attempting problem solving and group and/or individual behaviour-change. Lucky, the Hero! an HIV/AIDS Educational Theatre intervention initiative was launched by The Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management after research established that alarmingly low levels of HIV/AIDS knowledge existed amongst the predominantly Afrikaans speaking farm workers communities of the Western Cape region as media campaigns had not successfully reached them due to geographical isolation and illiteracy. Theoretical guidelines for the development process and implementation of Lucky, the Hero! are provided: how it came about; its content and messages; and the intricacies of how the show was rolled out to audiences. The specific results and findings of such an Educational Theatre intervention campaign in the Breede River Valley during September 2007 are discussed, as well as how successful the practical implementation of the intervention has been in terms of its theoretical base and initial purpose. Lucky, the Hero! was found to be overall successful in achieving its aims and proved to be entertaining and educational. It improved general knowledge of HIV infection amongst participants and motivated intentions towards positive behaviour change. Over 2000 participants were also tested during the 14-day intervention. Theatre as intervention tool proved to be effective in this specific instance as most participants agreed that educational theatre was an appropriate method to positively influence HIV/AIDS related behaviour in the community. They also expressed the wish to see the performance again and said they would encourage others to see it. Although the evaluation methods served their purpose in proving that theatre was an effective tool in HIV/AIDS education and provided basic information and results about HIV/AIDS and the intervention strategy method and campaign, a multi-integrated approach needs to be considered. The latter should include follow up interventions focusing on ongoing HIV/AIDS education and training in order to achieve feasible and sustainable long term results.