Legitimacy in Action: Theatre as Pedagogy, Advocacy and Civil Engagement in the Global South

This study investigates how theatre-based pedagogy can legitimize advocacy within postgraduate psychology education in South Africa. Conducted with 20 students through participatory action research, the project integrated role-play, ensemble performance, reflective essays and advocacy artefacts. Data were analysed thematically using an integrated visual–textual approach. Findings indicated that students redefined legitimacy as a dynamic, co-constructed process grounded in cultural responsiveness, moral alignment and stakeholder engagement. Theatre unsettled academic hierarchies, fostered critical consciousness and supported socially responsive practice. Student-generated artefacts also extended beyond the classroom, positioning theatre as a tool for knowledge mobilization, public dialogue and advocacy within civil society.