By Kenan Miruka
Performing in tattered clothes is the fad, and Kenyans across the country seem to love it. There is a buzz of excitement as two middle-aged men in torn clothes enter the stage deeply engrossed in loud and animated conversation.
They know how to grab the attention of the audience. It is a sports day and the children, who are usually noisy and uncontrollable, suddenly fall quiet, anticipating what the actors have in store for them.
Wild applause and laughter greet the troupe as the act commences. The hilarious piece rendered in dholuo, the local language, is captivating.
The actors enact a scene in which a father wants to marry off his teenage daughter to a rich man in the village, an idea the wife vehemently opposes as the hapless daughter watches.
Short play
As the short play reaches its conclusion, the wife succeeds in talking her husband out of his plan and the couple chases away the rich suitor and his go-between from their compound.
The audience applauds wildly as the actors exit the stage happy that their performance has touched on an issue affecting the community by encouraging debate on child marriage and hopefully, gradually discarding the practice.
Homabay Magnet Theatre Youth Group, a 38-member group based in Homabay County, has been disseminating change messages to the local community and has played a big role in educating and encouraging discourse on a variety of issues.
Established in 2006, the youth group has been at the forefront in educating and encouraging dialogue on child rights, consequences of early marriage and HIV and Aids.
Other issues they tackle include young people and leadership, drug and substance abuse, peace and reconciliation as well as health.
“Theatre is the greatest and effective tool of communication as it accommodates everybody across all ages. We use what is called provocative education theatre where we ask questions that are answered immediately as we go on with our performance,” explains Carlpeters Oloo, a member of the group.
Using poems, songs, choral and solo verses and the spoken word, the group has made significant gains.
Educate audience
They perform at health centres and dispensaries across the county. “We are assigned a theme which we implement in a play that is normally rendered in vernacular but the language can vary depending on the audience,” says Hellen Onyango, a teacher and actor.
The group chairman, Synod Okello, 24, explains that the group performs on a particular theme before embarking on a session with facilitators leading discussions to educate the audience.
“We bring the audience on board. After a performance and facilitation on a topic like HIV and Aids, some people have come to us seeking advice on what to do. In such cases, we direct them to go to voluntary counselling and testing centres,” says Okello.
He adds; “At the end of each session, we have a post-performance ‘feel good’ moment which takes the form of a discussion where we interact with the audience and advise them on what to do”.
The group members meet twice a week at their office in Homabay town for rehearsals on assignments from government agencies and NGOs in the area.
“We get opportunities to perform for various audiences and whenever demand arises, we travel to other counties to perform,” adds Oloo
However, their job has not been without challenges.
“We use vernacular which is limiting. We plan to seek exposure and take part in major performances,” avers Oloo.
Okello says most of his troupe members are talented.
“We feel so proud when people listen to us and promise to change the way they do things. Our group’s performances encouraged people to improve sanitation facilities through consistent campaign,” says Okello.
