HIV and AIDS Education

The field of applied drama and theatre belongs to a new paradigm shift in development education. By means of embodied performance, applied drama and theatre seeks to influence and effect change in the lives of the people for whom and by whom it is performed. More specifically, the fight against HIV/AIDS cannot afford to ignore the cultural dimension of the epidemic, hence the medium of communication also needs to be able to enact change in the people''s way of life. In its broadest sense, applied drama and theatre belongs to the field of participatory performance methodologies that are driven by a central transformative principle. The emphasis is placed on the application of drama and theatre to help participants improvise, rehearse, perform, reflect and act upon questions that relate to the betterment of their own lives. This book focuses on how applied drama and theatre has become one of the most effective mediums for HIV/AIDS education in two selected Southern African countries.