Community Theatre and Global Networks
MAKHAMPOM THEATRE GROUP
Organizational Vision
Citizen Base Strategy
Results
The Community Theatre Study Tour is a special project, which operates along side the Makhampom Theatre Group. This project sees theater as an efficient conduit for information exchange, and general capacity building. Community theatre can reflect existing problems and spark discussions about what can best be done if similar circumstances should arise within the community. By working with local community member insiders as well as tourist outsiders, the group hopes to get a balanced perspective that everyone can learn from. The Study Tour’s director, Somsak Siribhand, aims to improve understanding about relevant issues and stimulate discussions among community members and tourists.
The Study Tour forms specialized theatre groups that use community members to put on shows that entertain locals and tourists. They don’t just perform for tourists; they incorporate tourists into the process through the use of home-stay visits and tourist participation. The plays they perform incorporate cultural concepts including traditions and problems. This promotes a dynamic conversation about social concerns and helps brainstorm problem solving techniques from a variety of perspectives. Local Thai communities learn more about their traditions and problems while tourists get an opportunity to better understand Thai culture. The next step is to link theatre groups to form a network for international exchange. This seems to happen fairly easily. A nature link is established. As Somsak noted “Many of the tourists who participate or just watch the theatre want to return to work with us…others want to go back and establish their own community theatre.”
The tourists are also used to support the program. While “village organizations, families and children are always ready to help organize tour activities,” the program must also pay for local resources and services rendered. Tourist groups interested in community theatre pay to watch the performances, to participate in the performances and to stay with local families.
The Study Tour has established an international network of community theatres. It has been able to serve as an on the job training for many community members. It has developed English and managerial skills as well as other techniques for improving work performance. It also increases confidence of participants as they are given an opportunity to demonstrate their ability and apply their own knowledge and experiences.