Call to reinvent street theatre to connect with tribal communities

A street play organised by Thampu tribal collective in Attappady in 2022.

Street theatre must be performed in tribal languages and rooted in indigenous culture and everyday life to make health awareness campaigns effective, according to Thampu, a tribal collective working in Attappady and Wayanad. The demand is backed by a study conducted a few years ago by social researcher Maneesh Sreekariyam on the effectiveness of street theatre in addressing malnutrition among tribal communities in Attappady.

The study highlighted the need for health campaigns rooted in tribal languages and culture rather than conventional methods of communication. Thampu had organised street plays in collaboration with the government and organisations such as UNICEF when infant deaths were reported in Attappady a few years ago. The performances addressed child health, nutrition, the Forest Rights Act, government welfare schemes and health support during floods and landslides.

The study found that street theatre effectively improved awareness and influenced dietary practices among tribal families. About 70 per cent of respondents reported positive changes in their knowledge or nutritional practices after watching the performances.

A street theatre camp organised by Thampu tribal collective in association with UNICEF in Attappady in 2022

The findings also highlighted the importance of involving tribal communities in developing and staging the plays. Local participation made the performances relevant to tribespeople and helped them connect with the messages, said Rajendra Prasad, Thampu president. Thampu called for using tribal languages, folk songs, traditional art forms and local narratives to communicate health messages. Street theatre, it argued, should go beyond delivering information and encourage discussion and community participation.

The collective’s demand comes amid continuing concerns over infant deaths and health conditions such as sickle cell anaemia in Attappady. It called for community-based awareness programmes covering malnutrition, anaemia, maternal and child health, and access to government services.

The study stressed that awareness campaigns alone could not address malnutrition. Better access to nutritious food and measures to overcome economic and social barriers were also needed. Thampu maintained that street theatre, reinvented through tribal languages and cultural expressions, could help communities understand health issues, question existing practices and bring about lasting change.