Abstract

In Malawi, as in many countries worldwide, theatre and media are widely acknowledged as essential tools for promoting societal change and development ( Abdulla, 2016 ; Hahn, 2011 ; Kerr, 2013 ; Kidd, 1984 ). They serve as crucial channels for information sharing, fostering dialogue, and facilitating social and behavioural change on issues such as health, education, disability rights, environmental challenges, and community development ( Chisiza, 2017 , 2019a , 2019b ; Chisiza and Bonsall, 2016 ) While there is established scholarship on the uses of theatre and media in Malawi, much of this work focuses on the colonial (1891–1964) and the post-colonial period up to the early 2000s ( Kamlongera, 2005 ; Kerr, 1995 , 2002 , 2013 ). Since then, the field has evolved significantly, embracing new technologies, diverse methodologies, and a broader range of social issues. This volume, Theatre and Media for Social Change in Malawi , aims to document and understand these contemporary practices, addressing the fact that they remain comparatively under-documented and less visible in academic literature, with only a few studies (see Abdulla, 2016 ; Chisiza and Bonsall 2016 ; Chisiza, 2017 , 2019a ; Makhumula, 2017 ) providing insights into these important recent developments.

Original language	en
Pages (from-to)	1-7
Publication status	Published - 2025