Theatre development in Botswana

Abstract

It is an accepted reality that theatre as an art-form plays an important role in national development. Firstly, theatre as a cultural institution reflects people’s cultural norms and ethos, and can assist in nation-building as well as in the transmission of culture to the next generations. Secondly, theatre as a medium can be used to reach out to communities on various issues of national concern. And thirdly, theatre as an industry can create employment and contribute to development. Whilst these ‘functional’ aspects of theatre are acknowledged by all, there seems to be a general assumption that theatre can achieve all these onerous objectives without a deliberate plan or strategy to develop it as an art-form, resource it sufficiently and harness available theatre talent. This paper interrogates this scenario within the context of Botswana’s national development plans, policy documents and historical practice. The paper examines initiatives by the public sector, private sector and the arts/theatre community towards the development of theatre in Botswana within the context of the development agenda of the country.