The 30-minute play Lucky the Hero!, the first production of the Educational Theatre Company, is full of facts, humour and emotional impact. It is presented in Afrikaans and English, and mostly as a combination of both.

What is Lucky all about?

This mini-musical traces the journey of a young man, Lucky, who becomes aware of his risky behaviour through information given on a radio programme. He takes the brave step to be tested and then has to face the consequences. After revealing his status to his best friend, who gossips the information to the whole community, he is ostracised.

From factual information given to him as an anonymous caller on a radio station, he gains the self-assurance that his life still has great value. He disguises himself as Captain AIDS fighter and informs the community about the disease and changes their thinking.

His intervention on several aspects of sexual behaviour with community members becomes the catalyst to gain his acceptance back into the community. Through his enterprise he and the community realise the preventative facts, truths and outcomes so much so that all are convinced they will survive the epidemic.

The initial target audiences were farms in the greater Stellenbosch area, where HIV and AIDS knowledge levels were very low and where illiteracy and geographical isolation provides additional problems. Having been trained as peer educators, the actors can also be instrumental in being role models, in promoting positive living and in eradicating the stigma that is still associated with HIV and AIDS.

In addition to this, the play was written in such a way that it includes monitoring and evaluation protocol, so that its effect and success as an educational tool can be measured. It is indeed a cost-effective, efficient tool to arouse the necessary commitment to those who view this professional presentation.

Approximately 25 000 people have been reached by Lucky the Hero! Feedback shows that the play has been received quite enthusiastically: In general, people are better informed after completing the monitoring and evaluation protocol and are more motivated to do something about HIV and AIDS related matters.

Laughter, drama, fun and the facts about HIV and AIDS: Lucky the Hero! is an excellent educational tool to teach people about the basic facts of HIV/AIDS in everyday language.