Pilot Project of Dialogue Theatre Creativity: A Campaign for Gambling Problem Protection in Isan Youth and Communities

Abstract

Abstract

          This qualitative research aims to develop a dialogue theater on gambling as creative media for building learning and realization of gambling problems among youth groups and their communities. The research team applies Participatory Action Research (PAR) by which the team constructs the “dialogue theater” as the research tool in order to exhibit and launch campaigns that promote gambling literacy. The team then formulates lesson learned for facilitating comprehension of efficiency and effectiveness of the constructed tools. Furthermore, the team interviews various stakeholders as to seek for proper practical guides in promoting learning about gambling and gambling problem literacy among the participants in Roi-Et, Srisaket, and Ubon Ratchathani province.

          Results of the research reveal that the dialogue theater is being used as the campaign tool for gambling literacy. It is the specifically functional tool that allows the participants to interact, demonstrate thoughts as well as well contribute to the dialogues and narratives. This then leads to impulsive stimulation of thoughts in which the participants become literate on gambling problems. However, the campaign only temporarily occurs. It is thus not meant to resolve the problems in a long term. Even so, since the dialogue theater is targeted to make change upon the players. Any changes that the players have reflected from being in the process of the theater are deemed as the changes point of view and knowledge toward gambling. Especially, knowledge and realization of moral accuracy, egoistic correction, and legal justice. The participants may not immediately decisive changes their relationships towards people who are involved in gambling, but the dialogue theater has shed light on ways in which the audiences; villagers, students, and undergraduates, mutually imagine while watching the plays. The mutual imagination should have drawn upon meaningful interactions, stimulation of thoughts, and exchange of gambling problems as well as promotion of gambling literacy due to the audiences’ experiences are well associated with gambling. Such lessons could be retrieved from their active discussions in the post-dialogue theater.

Key words: Gambling, Dialogues theatre, Campaign for Gambling Problem Protection