Systemic co-production through participatory theatre: Migrant domestic workers' rights via Waling Waling Drama Project

The Waling Waling orchid, a symbol of Filipino resilience, frames the project's methodology as rooted in indigenous epistemologies of care and collective action. Indigenous traditions of oral storytelling as tools for social critique are central to the project's approach, yet these are framed as 'participatory' rather than as decolonial praxis. The project could deepen its engagement with indigenous knowledge systems by centering the orchid's cultural significance in the narrative arc of the drama itself.

The project echoes historical precedents like the 19th-century 'social theatre' movements in Europe, which used performance to critique industrial capitalism. It also parallels mid-20th century 'theatre of the oppressed' in Latin America, which emerged from struggles against authoritarian regimes. The UK's current domestic worker policies can be traced to colonial-era labor export systems, where migrant labor was commodified under the guise of 'development'.

Participatory theatre as a tool for migrant rights aligns with traditions in West Africa where griot storytelling addresses social injustices, and with Maori 'kaupapa Māori' theatre in Aotearoa New Zealand that centers indigenous sovereignty. The project's co-production model mirrors Indigenous Canadian practices of 'two-eyed seeing', which integrate Western and indigenous knowledge systems. These cross-cultural parallels reveal participatory theatre as a universal language of resistance against structural oppression.

The project aligns with social movement theory, which posits that cultural production can catalyze political consciousness and collective action. Theatre-based interventions have been empirically linked to shifts in public attitudes toward marginalized groups, as demonstrated in studies on 'forum theatre' techniques. The methodology also reflects participatory action research principles, emphasizing co-creation of knowledge with affected communities rather than extraction of data.

The Waling Waling orchid's symbolism of resilience and regeneration infuses the project with a spiritual dimension, framing resistance as an act of care rather than mere protest. The use of drama as a medium allows for the embodiment of lived experiences, transforming personal trauma into collective catharsis. This artistic approach aligns with indigenous traditions where performance is not just representation but a sacred act of rebalancing social harmony.

The project models a future where arts-based methodologies are institutionalized as tools for policy transformation, particularly in labor rights and migration governance. It suggests a shift from extractive research practices to co-productive knowledge systems that prioritize community-defined outcomes. The model could be scaled to address other systemic injustices, such as climate-induced migration or racial capitalism, by centering marginalized voices in narrative creation.

The project centers the voices of migrant domestic workers, who are often rendered invisible in policy debates about labor rights. By co-producing knowledge with the affected community, it challenges the erasure of their expertise in shaping solutions. The methodology ensures that the narratives produced are not just about the workers but are authored by them, disrupting traditional power dynamics in knowledge production.