No Monkey Business runs for 35 to 45 minutes and is presented in English, Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, and Tswana. Performed in schools, the shows are designed to be energetic, interactive, vibrant, and colourful, and are structured into short narrative segments which are linked with participatory songs.

The show follows Mac Monkey who has a severe cold but is afraid to tell his caregiver Thandi because he is afraid of doctors. He tries to hide away but his best friend, Vanda Vulture, somewhat of a hypochondriac herself, tells on him. Thandi takes Mac to Doctor Hippo who explains to Mac exactly why people become ill, what germs are, and how to look after his body to keep himself healthy in the future.

Later, much improved after his doctor’s visit, Mac and Vanda meet their friend Lindi Leopard. When Lindi hears that Mac is recovering from a cold, she tells him that unfortunately she can't play with them that day. Lindi is HIV positive and Mac's cold could make her even sicker. Mac and Vanda, confused about germs and dirt and illness, run away from Lindi – to wash their hands! A disappointed Thandi, with Lindi’s help, explains to Mac and Vanda about HIV and how some sicknesses are different, and how one gets it.

Mac feels very guilty about the way he acted and, in a gesture of goodwill, offers Lindi the medicine that Doctor Hippo gave him to cure his cold, despite Vanda’s deep misgivings. Unfortunately, Lindi starts to feel dizzy and very sick. Mac gets a huge fright and calls Thandi, who puts things right, explaining how Lindi’s medicines, her ARV’s, control her HIV, and how they reacted badly with Mac’s cold medicine. Thandi reminds the friends that they should only take medicines from people they know and trust like parents and doctors, and that one should never share medicines.

The focus in No Monkey Business is on an understanding of, and relationships with people who may be HIV positive, and the basic principles of good health. In addition, sensitively and without worrying the audience, the show raises the issues around terminal illness, and the fear and discrimination that are associated with it.

The arrep: Theatre for Life productions have two aspects: the live performance of a play, specifically designed for the preferred age group to foster identification and emotional recognition, followed by a facilitated peer discussion, to encourage debate, and to further the cognitive personalisation, internalisation, and contextualising of the issues presented. According to arrep: Theatre for Life, after their shows, learners should be able to:

• identify and solve problems and make decisions using critical and creative thinking;
• communicate effectively ;
• show responsibility towards the environment and the health of others;
• demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem solving contexts do not exist in isolation;
• understand and accept themselves as unique and worthwhile human beings;
• use skills and display attitudes and values that improve relationships in family, peers and community;
• respect the right of people to hold personal beliefs and values;
• demonstrate value and respect for human rights;
• practice acquired life and decision-making skills; and
• demonstrate the values and attitudes necessary for a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

HIV/AIDS, Health, Children

arrep: Theatre for Life is an Applied Theatre organisation which has been operating nationally in South Africa since 1987. Using live, dramatic theatre, and puppetry presentations it creates productions that travel to schools nation-wide, providing sexuality and social life-skills education to school-going youth, for the promotion and development of resilient self-efficacy.