Wan Smolbag Theatre

Wan Smolbag Theatre (WSB) was established in 1989 as an amateur theatre group with 15 voluntary actors. Since that time WSB has established a national and regional reputation as a development theatre organisation that produces and delivers locally-produced, high quality film, radio and theatre productions that are complemented by a range of workshop and printed materials. Coupled with structured workshops facilitated by actors, the organisation uses drama to inform, raise awareness and encourage public discussion on a range of contemporary health, lifestyle, environment and governance issues. It is the use of development theatre that has led WSB into other areas such as reproductive health clinics, youth centres, and a rural-based conservation network. In 1997, WSB spent six months working closely with the Blacksands/Tagabe peri-urban settlement community which has high levels of unemployment and illiteracy. During this time a community play was developed, and research was conducted into many issues affecting the contemporary daily lives of community members. As result of this collaboration, WSB initiated a new reproductive health clinic (Kam Pusum Hed or KPH) at its base in Port Vila. KPH has gone on to be a model for the region of a confidential, youth-friendly reproductive health service. We have also duplicated the KPH model in Santo, with the Northern Youth Care Clinic. Today WSB has around 100 full- and part-time staff and have our base at warehouses in Tagabe, Port Vila. We also have youth centres on the islands of Pentecost and Santo. WSB has two associate theatre groups on the outer islands; Haulua Theatre based on Pentecost and Wuhuran Theatre based on Ambrym. WSB also has a network of over 200 volunteer conservation monitors (Vanua-tai monitors) based on islands throughout Vanuatu.