Breaking Barriers Through the Stage: How Forum Theatre is Transforming Gender Roles in Dowa
In the heart of Group Village Headman (GVH) Chikuse, nestled within Mononga Village, a lively circle of community members leans in closely. At the center of this circle stands Agness Kalata. Her voice is clear, her gestures are animated, and her mission is profound.
Agness is leading a powerful transformation. She is part of a specialized, four-member local touring theatre group—alongside Martha Ndizo, Jackson Kamakantha, and Limbikani Chiusiwa—trained intensively in Theatre for Development (TfD) and Forum Theatre.
This impactful initiative is brought to life by Rhema Institute for Development, in a proud and vital partnership with Hope for a Child UK. Together, we are using the power of participatory performance to challenge deep-rooted gender inequities, promote women’s empowerment, and spark real, community-led solutions.
Traditional theatre asks the audience to sit back and watch. Forum Theatre demands that they step in and change the narrative.
As Agness stands before the members of the Tidziwane and Kaliba Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), she carefully explains the rules of this participatory approach. The actors first perform a short, four-minute scenario depicting a harsh, oppressive reality that many women in Traditional Authority Mkukula face daily.
On this particular day, the troupe tackled two heavy realities: water scarcity and domestic financial control.
“The goal isn’t just to show a sad story,” Agness explains to the crowd. “The goal is to change it. But the solution cannot be magical—it must be real, practical, and driven by you.”
During the first run of the performance, a scene unfolds where a husband strictly forbids his wife from attending vital VSLA meetings, cutting her off from financial independence and community support.
In a standard play, the curtain would fall on this injustice. But under the Rhema Institute and Hope for a Child UK model, the second run of the performance changes everything. The audience is invited to shout “Stop!”, step into the acting circle, replace the oppressed character, and act out a realistic solution.
The impact was immediate and visual:
Shifting Mindsets: A local man wearing a white t-shirt, visibly moved by the scenario, stepped directly into the circle.
Rewriting the Story: He took the place of the submissive wife to confront the stubborn husband, demonstrating how couples can constructively negotiate time, share household burdens, and recognize the immense value VSLAs bring to the entire family.
A Community United: The surrounding crowd erupted into a passionate debate, dissecting the unfair gender perceptions that hold women back in the Dowa district.
Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) are incredible tools for economic empowerment, but financial tools alone cannot dismantle centuries of gender bias. By bringing Forum Theatre directly to the Kaliba and Tidziwane VSLA communities, Rhema Institute for Development and Hope for a Child UK are tackling the root causes of inequality.
When men participate in these theatrical debates, they don’t just hear about gender equality—they literally step into a woman’s shoes. It bridges the gap between economic opportunity and social justice.
Through the generous support and partnership of Hope for a Child UK, teams like Agness’s are traversing Traditional Authority Mkukula, ensuring that development is not something done for the community, but by the community.
We are moving away from “magical” endings and working toward a real, sustainable future where every woman in Dowa is empowered to speak, save, lead, and thrive.