Drama And The Development Of Rural Communities JSS3 Cultural & Creative Arts (CCA) Lesson Note

THEATRE FOR DEVELOPMENT

Theatre for development represents a live performance or theatre used as a developmental tool in international development. It encompasses the following in-person activities, with people before an audience: 

1. A spoken word drama or comedy.
2. A music, singing, and /or dance production.
3. A production with movement but no sound.
4. Participatory or improvisational techniques using any or all of these theatres for development as a progression from less interactive theatre forms to a more dialogical process, where theatre is practiced with people or by the way of empowering communities, listening to their concerns, and then encouraging them to voice and solve their problems.

STATE OF RURAL COMMUNITIES

People in rural communities encounter the challenge of a slow-paced development as a result of youths migrating from rural communities to urban areas in search of white collars. This hampers the development of rural communities since the youths play a key role in the development of such rural communities. It is being observed that in the rural communities of Southeast states of Nigeria, the level of development is low as a result of high levels of poverty, low standard of living, and neglect by the government in providing the basic amenities, etc. 

WAYS DRAMA CAN ASSIST RURAL PEOPLE

1. Self-motivation of people upon the provision of the Western style of adopting best health practices through drama. Interactive dramatic techniques help members of rural communities assess their health needs and possible solutions to the problems they face in rural communities.
2. By engaging the rural people through active participation in drama that serves as an avenue in which they can earn a living.
3. Exposing rural people to televised drama that reveals events that happen in urban areas to inculcate or teach moral lessons.
4. Taking some rural people on tour to urban areas where they can participate with actors in urban areas and learn more through drama. 
5. By using drama as a tool in rural communities to promote the culture, tradition, and beliefs of the rural people through their involvement in drama . This will to a large extent not only benefit the rural people but also those from all parts of the country and beyond in understanding the significance of their culture, tradition, and belief.
6. Organizing training programs for the rural people to be adequately equipped in the art of drama and also for self-empowerment.

 EVALUATION QUESTIONS

1. What does theatre for development represent?
2. State two other ways that drama can help the rural people.

 GENERAL EVALUATION/REVISION QUESTIONS

1. What is contemporary art?
2. Write a brief history of the art of the early men.
3. Highlight the differences between relief sculpture and sculpture in the round.
4. What is theatre design?
5. Mention three elements that make up a theatre.

READING ASSIGNMENT

Cultural and Creative Art by Peter Akinyemi, Book 3.

REFERENCE PAGE: Pages 91 –   95. Attempt the revision questions.

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

1. Which one of the following is NOT a way of assisting the rural people through drama? (a) Provision of opportunities for the rural people to participate in drama.      (b) Exposing the rural people to what is generally accepted as a norm in urban areas through drama. (c) Disregarding the culture of the rural people and paying more attention to the Western culture. (d) None of the above.
2. A popular area in Lagos State where live dramas are performed…………(a) National Museum, Iganmu, Lagos State  (b)National Theatre, Onikan, Lagos State (c) Esie Museum (d) None of the above
3. Rural communities are underdeveloped compared to urban areas. (a) True  (b) False  (c) Maybe  (d) Not sure
4. Drama is a means of promoting entertainment both in rural communities and urban areas. (a) True (b) False (c) Maybe  (d) Not sure
5. Traditional drama serves as a means of promoting the culture and tradition of people in rural communities. (a) True  (b) False  (c) Maybe  (d) Not sure

THEORY

1. What does theatre for development represent?
2. Describe the state of rural communities briefly.