Parallels Sessions II – 2.1 Parasite Street Science

Hannah Bialic, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, UK
Nicola Veitch,  the School of Infection and Immunity, at the University of Glasgow.

Parasite Street Science is an initiative formed between the University of Glasgow and the street theatre company SURGE in 2019. This collaboration’s goal is to improve communication and public engagement through the art of street theatre – specifically communication about sleeping sickness: a deadly parasitic disease transmitted by the tsetse fly. The performance was showcased at the Merchant City Festival in 2021 and again in 2022, forming the basis of the main stage of the project, which took place in Malawi in October 2022. The project involved community members, scientists, medical practitioners, health and theatre professionals from both Scotland and Malawi: a global effort exploring the potential of street theatre for complex health issues. The performance toured villages in two infection hotspots performed to thousands of people. Our session will lead the discussion on how to build a street theatre performance that simplifies complex ideas and creates impact.