Theatre of the street: Drama and Performance as a potential gang intervention strategy and social development resource in affected communities in South Africa

Abstract

Throughout South Africa, especially in Cape Town and the northern areas of Port Elizabeth, gangsterism remains one of the greatest challenges affecting social development in communities. Seemingly at wits end, community leaders, city officials and law enforcement authorities frustratedly continue to fight what appears to be a losing battle. One of the glaring gaps in the war against gangsterism is an approach that seeks to utilise the experiences of the gang members themselves as a vehicle towards their rehabilitation. Thus, this article proposes the use of drama and performance as a strategy aimed at rehabilitating youths already caught up in the gang lifestyle. The authors address the central question: to what extent can drama and performance be used as a viable intervention strategy to assist gang-affected communities? Further, how could the proposed strategy be used as an effective social development resource in such communities?

Keywords: Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, drama and performance, gangsterism, social therapy, South Africa