Wan Smol Bag Theatre

Solving problems together

Energizing Communities to take action

Adding drama to development in the Pacific

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Community theater brings plays to the people, plays about environmental, health, social and human rights. The Wan Smolbag Theater, located in the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu writes and produces a large number of plays, drama sketches, and participatory drama workshops for government agencies, NGOs and development programs.

In 1989, 15 voluntary part time actors organized the Wan Smolbag Theatre as an Non Government Organization (NGO) to work with communities on social and environmental issues. With only one small bag to carry a few costumes, the troupe was ready to produce plays on health and environmental issues and travel to the most remote village. 

The theatre was a big hit with communities.  The performances gave them a real picture of important social, health and environmental issues.

The theatre was a big hit with the government agencies, too. They asked the Wan Smol Bag Theatre to produce and perform plays and videos to bring essential informaiton about sustainable development and health to the remote villages located on more than seventy islands. The mainstay of the group's work are short 20 to 50 minute theatre pieces on environmental, health, and population issues. Requests come from government agencies, development projects, and other programs. 

They have produced plays and videos with science messages like the life cycle of turtles, how the body works, and immunization and they have animated dramatic sketches with health and social messages and information involving audience participation.

Wan Smolbag performs throughout Vanuatu and the Pacific Islands and trains groups from all over the Pacific Islands in creating and performing participatory community theater. Visit the following pages to find a list of the Wan Smolbag repertoire. You can order their videos, books, and audio tapes from this web site.  If you would like Wan Smolbag Theatre to design and perform a play or video on a special topic, please contact us. 

For general information on Vanuatu visit the Rocket Guide to Vanuatu

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