In August I headed to Berlin, Germany to train with Bárbara Santos, a facilitator of Theatre of the Oppressed but from a feminist aesthetics perspective. We were a community of educators, activists, academics, consultants, artists coming together across many different countries. I came away from this experience enriched by not only the new participatory games and methodologies I will be bringing into my work, but also a deepened understanding of how Theatre of the Oppressed can ignite a community to action.
Over the 7 days of training, almost every evening, we either performed or watched a Forum Theatre, (a type of theatre created by Augusto Boal where audience members interact with the actors on stage to address a social justice issue) on topics like toxic masculinity, immigration, gender inclusion, climate justice. Each time I came away struck by the potency of the arts to educate and invite communities to and invite them to dialogue together without creating an us versus them. It was magic. If you are interested in learning more or getting a taste of this embodied approach to dialogue, reach out.
If you would like a taste of our experience, check out this video created by fellow participant Sam Dixon, a multi-disciplinary artist, theatre facilitator, and Producer in the UK. (Instagram: @samdixon)
If you're a leader or change-maker, in the nonprofit, research, philanthropy, social impact sectors, who is committed to social justice and creating systems change, consider using Theatre of the Oppressed methodologies. The power of these tools to create a space to see each other in our humanity and find meaningful solutions is incredible.
Below is an excerpt from an audience member’s Facebook post after participating in one of our Forum Theatre productions focused on gender inclusion. He speaks to the impact the performance had on him. He saw himself on stage. He saw himself in his humanity. More importantly, he saw how he could create change with a community.
“Tonight might have been the most important night of my year. When I went there for my intervention, I didn’t expect it to change at all – there were 10 oppressed [actors on stage], my actions alone would change nothing. I just thought to myself, that worst case – I’ll be oppressed and buried with the other queers, but I am gonna go there anyway. Then Nicky offered to join me [on stage]…. I didn’t have a planned [intervention]…. When the audience stormed the stage in solidarity during our intervention, I didn’t even realize what was happening. It was very fast…..The next think I know – the flow of the scenes changes completely, and people are helping the enbies I try to help, but don’t have enough attention or hands; people are helping me, and hugging me, an dancing with me, and somehow …we won. I’m not able to cry since my teens. I would definitely cry then and there if I could. I would still be crying every 30 minutes on and off. Thank you so much. Something I’m not quite aware of shifted in me this night. I’m very determined to help it, keep it alive, and bring it the surface. I know the world outside is different from the theatre, but I’m different too now. I have a visceral experience of solidarity and elemental collective effort. I’ll cherish this change, for I see it growing beyond my current imagination…..”