
Nigeria Toolkit: Demand Generation
- Home
- Help and Support
- Close
- Toolkits
- Global Toolkit
- AYSRH Toolkit
- Hub Toolkits
- Core High-Impact Practices
- Close
- Resource Collection
- Community of Practice
- Coaching
- Log In/Register
- My Profile
- English
Leverage and Strengthen Community Theater & Drama Groups
What is it?
The LGA Health Educators identify relevant local theater groups with a goal towards creating a cadre of community-based drama groups that have the capacity to effectively and skillfully deliver health messages and engage target audiences in health promotion through theater for development techniques.
Why is it important?
- Build the capacity of local drama groups to conduct effective community theatre for health promotion
- Build the capacity of theatre groups to develop entertaining and target-audience centered dramas focusing on the thematic areas of family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH) and adolescent health
- Improve theatre group members’ confidence and skills in community theatre facilitation
- Build the capacity of theatre groups to create a conducive space for effective audience participation
What are the steps for implementing this approach?
Step 1: Identify Drama Groups
Selection criteria may include:
- Experience in performance arts: Evaluate the group’s performance history and the genres that they have engaged in. Interest in, comfort with, and skills in performance should be considered.
- Presence in the group of skilled playwrights, directors, actors, etc. is an added advantage.
- Majority of group members should be fluent and articulate in the local language.
- There should be an acceptable gender balance in the group – preferably 50%:50%. A group should have a total of at least 10 members.
- Interest in social and health issues, including family planning and commitment to tackling a community health challenge.
Step 2: Facilitate a 4-Day Training
The training includes two days of workshop and script writing. Then, Day 3 is a mock rehearsal where TCI and the LGA Health Educator provide feedback and correct any misinformation. And, on Day 4, it’s time for the actual community theater performance where mobilizers will come and distribute referral cards.
The two-day workshop is facilitated by team of facilitators which include the SBCC Committee members, particularly the State/LGA Health Educators with support from TCI. The facilitating team is also present during the mock rehearsal.
At the end of the community theater performance, social mobilizers give out referral cards (Go-Cards) to members of the audience who indicate interest in adopting a family planning method.
See the training curriculum for additional guidance.

Members of the Dila drama troupe in Kontagora LGA in Niger State.
Intervention in Action
Niger State Drama Troupe in Nigeria on Becoming the Change They Want to See
TCI recently supported the Niger State government in Nigeria in training a drama troupe in Kontagora LGA (local government area) to disseminate family planning messages such as child birth spacing through community theater. After the training, the troupe not only became family planning advocates, but decided to access family planning services themselves.
At the end of the training, which culminated in the play performance, all troupe members and their friends asked for referral cards for themselves or for their spouses. Yusuf, a young trader and member of the drama group, said the troupe had to live out the reality of the play themselves by talking to their real-life spouses and then requesting referral cards. TCI was encouraged by seeing this change in mindset beginning with the actual change agents.
TCI APP USERS PLEASE NOTE
You will only receive CERTIFICATES by email – when earning a score above 80% – and will not be able to view or print a certificate PDF from the TCI app.
Test Your Knowledge
Earn a Certificate
Quiz Summary
0 of 5 Questions completed
Questions:
Information
You have already completed the quiz before. Hence you can not start it again.
Quiz is loading…
You must sign in or sign up to start the quiz.
You must first complete the following:
Results
Results
0 of 5 Questions answered correctly
Your time:
Time has elapsed
You have reached 0 of 0 point(s), (0)
Earned Point(s): 0 of 0, (0)
0 Essay(s) Pending (Possible Point(s): 0)
Categories
- Not categorized 0%
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- Current
- Review
- Answered
- Correct
- Incorrect
-
Question 1 of 5
1. Question
Criteria for an effective drama group may include:
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 2 of 5
2. Question
At the end of a theater performance event social mobilizers will give out family planning referral cards to interested audience members.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 3 of 5
3. Question
The workshop for community theater development is facilitated by:
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 4 of 5
4. Question
How useful did you find the information and/or tools presented on this page? Please write your response in the box below using one of the following phrases: Very useful, Useful, Somewhat useful, Not useful.
Feel free to comment on why you made that choice.
-
This response will be awarded full points automatically, but it can be reviewed and adjusted after submission.
Grading can be reviewed and adjusted.Grading can be reviewed and adjusted. -
-
Question 5 of 5
5. Question
How do you intend to use the information reviewed and/or tools that you accessed?
-
This response will be awarded full points automatically, but it can be reviewed and adjusted after submission.
Grading can be reviewed and adjusted.Grading can be reviewed and adjusted. -
Demand Generation Approaches