The role of theatre for development in reducing prevalent harmful traditional practices in the rural north of Bangladesh

Theatre for Development (TfD) is a proven community development tool used for real-world socio-economic, political and cultural solutions. This article evaluates the role of TfD as a knowledge-building medium through information dissemination to challenge the prevalent harmful traditional practices (HTPs) in Manmathpur Union under Parbatipur Upazila (subdistrict), Dinajpur district, Bangladesh. The previous pieces of literature regarding TfD’s role in community development in the country have been documented chiefly by national and international non-profit organizations delivering theatre interventions. Therefore, the rationale of the study lies in the importance of an academic evaluation of more than two decades of TfD culture in the study area. Mixed methods have been incorporated into the study to explore an understanding of TfD’s role in inducing attitudinal shifts amongst a group of TfD audience and non-audience members. The endeavour primarily recognized TfD as a Tathyabatayan (information centre). Creating a transforming impact on the community behaviour, this theatre mood was found to play crucial roles in mitigating child marriage and menstrual taboos, yet challenges were there in counteracting dowry and son preference. The findings also showed that the community members in touch with TfD were more informed with dissident attitude towards HTPs. The study concludes with recommending reaching non-audience members and addressing the conventions to stimulate the community against Violence against Women, providing trainings by TfD academics, practitioners and organizations to strengthen capacities of the theatre groups, engaging more female members as well as collaborative evaluation, documentation and publication.