Augusto Boal

Theatre of the Oppressed

The Life and Making of Boal• Born in Rio de Janeiro in time of turmoil under rule of

dictators– When he was little he would rewrite endings to books he didn’t like

• Went to Columbia University to study Chemical engineering• Experimented in Area theatre • Disliked that the audience only discussed after show, in one

show he invited audience to give suggestions to the actors playing the oppressed– One woman got so upset that an actor could not understand her

suggestion that Boal invited her onstage to perform the part and thus the “Spect-actor” was born

continued

• Due to his activism through theatre, the Brazilian government exiled him– First kidnapped and tortured though

• After moving to Europe he began teaching Theatre of the Oppressed

• Eventually moved back to Brazil and became city councilor

• Opened his own theatre and developed TotO more• Died in 2009 at age 78

Theatre of the Oppressed

• Invented in 1971 in Brazil• Meant to foster “democratic cooperative forms of

interaction among participants”• Based on education methods of Paulo Freire• Inspired by the poor and oppressed areas of Brazil• Looks for solutions to oppression and results of

oppression• Influenced by both Brecht and Stanislavsky• Wanted “monologue” to transform into a dialogue

between audience and actors

Types and Exercises• Forum theatre- Everyday situation is acted out and spect-

actors can suggest actions too the oppressed (or take their place)– Lead by the Joker (Boal originally): keeps it from being

magically fixed– Most common

• Image theatre – use your own and participant’s body’s to “sculpt” an idea involving oppression– More accessible because everyone has a body– Interpret images in a variety of ways– Like the tableau at the end of Laramie or Children’s Hour

continued• Invisible theatre – a scene taking place in public where bystanders are free

to join– Created to get around totalitarian government in Brazil– Audience not supposed to know it is a scene– Like the TV show What Would You Do?

• Rainbow of Desire - therapy with theatre– Uses games– Identify, analyze, and respond to internalized oppression– Example: your partner acts as your oppressor and you must tell them

everything you want to tell them while they act like they do not care• Legislative theatre – used to inspire laws

– Create a desire to change laws and create more equality– Watch a scene of oppression then audience and actors actually work

on bills

Conclusion

BOIS

ALL!!!!