Forum Theatre Summer Intensive Workshop

Posted by on March 17, 2014

Gas & Electric Arts 9th Annual
FORUM THEATRE SUMMER INTENSIVE
June 19 – 22, 2014
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

Our 9th annual Forum Theatre Summer Intensive is geared towards individuals seeking skills and techniques to improve their ability to effectively engage diversity issues. Forum Theatre is a participatory theatre technique that can be applied to all kinds of work committed to social action and transformation—educational, political, creative, cultural and beyond.

This training will bring out your ability to overcome societal and self-imposed limits in order to better include and interact with others.

June 19 – 22, 2014, 9am-5pm each day

Location: Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

Workshop Fee: $350. Space is limited. Registration deadline May 15, 2014.

CALL: 215.407.0556 (M-S, 9am – 7pm)    EMAIL: events@GasAndElectricArts.org

http://www.gasandelectricarts.org/Gas_%26_Electric_Arts/Forum_Theatre.html

About the Training

Forum Theatre is a core technique of Theatre of the Oppressed, a revolutionary form of participatory theatre designed primarily for non-actors by Brazilian theatre visionary and Nobel Peace Prize finalist Augusto Boal. Through lively, fun and revelatory activities and improvisations, Forum Theatre transforms real-life struggles into interactive theatrical dialogue. Audience members are given the freedom to “stop” a scene, jump into it, and theatrically investigate ways of changing automatic behavioral patterns that keep us stuck in situations of monologue and not dialogue.

Our 4 day training will guide participants through the process of building and performing Forum theatre pieces about issues of concern to them—from initial building of group solidarity, finding consensus around themes and social conflicts, animating improvisations for devising Forum pieces, and finally to performing and facilitating with spect-actor interventions to best extrapolate real life application.

As a result of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Practice and apply Theatre of the Oppressed techniques in their respective communities.
• Facilitate a group to construct, rehearse, refine and perform Forum Theatre to animate community dialogue.
• Practice hands-on storytelling, image-making and improvisation activities for strengthening communication, listening skills and fostering consensus.
• Utilize greater awareness of themselves, the roles they play in the world, and the impact of choices made when in conflicts
• Reflect on the theory and practice of Theatre of the Oppressed from a seasoned facilitator.
• Network with others who have similar interests

These skills are relevant in teaching, leading and managing diverse groups; dealing with community conflicts around issues such as race or sexual orientation; developing constructive conflict skills; analyzing problems of oppression and power; engaging youth and participants across generations.

Who is this for:
Facilitators/trainers of all kinds, educators, social workers, activists, artists, community organizers, therapists, anyone interested in civic and personal transformation, and working towards justice in their communities.

This workshop welcomes those new to, or with experience in, Theatre of the Oppressed. No theatre experience necessary!