Forum theatre performance | Shannon Ivey and STATE of Reality | TEDxColumbiaSC

Summary

The speaker introduces the 'Theatre of the Oppressed,' a tool used worldwide to empower marginalized groups through creative problem-solving. Developed by Brazilian revolutionary Augusto Boal, this form of interactive theatre fosters collaboration and action against social issues like racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination. Through forum theatre, participants can practice real-world solutions by acting out scenarios and engaging the audience as 'spect-actors' to help resolve conflicts. The presentation encourages taking small steps toward change, reminding viewers that they have the power to be agents of transformation in their communities.

Takeaways

• 🌐 2014 was a significant year that highlighted unresolved social issues, emphasizing the importance of addressing problems before they escalate.
• 🎭 The speaker introduces 'Theatre of the Oppressed', a tool developed by Augusto Boal to empower marginalized communities through creative problem-solving.
• 🌟 Theatre of the Oppressed is a global initiative that extends into various fields including education, activism, therapy, and social work.
• 🤝 The method involves playing games and using physical movement to bring underlying issues to the surface, fostering community and collective problem-solving.
• 🔍 It encourages participants to deconstruct and reconstruct social issues such as racism, sexism, ageism, and other forms of discrimination.
• 🎭 Forum theatre is a form of Theatre of the Oppressed where the audience can actively participate in changing the narrative of a play.
• 👥 The audience moves from being mere spectators to 'spect-actors', taking direct action to influence the story's outcome.
• 📝 Ground rules for forum theatre include recognizing that the protagonist has options, the antagonist can change, and the course of the story can be altered by an ally.
• 🌟 The speaker emphasizes the importance of finding real-world solutions to real-world problems, beyond just entertainment.
• 🎉 The presentation concludes with a live demonstration of forum theatre involving a student troupe, showcasing the power of collective action to solve social issues.
• 🌱 The speaker leaves the audience with the message that everyone can be an agent of change, encouraging small but significant actions to create a larger impact.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the talk?

The main theme of the talk is the use of Theatre of the Oppressed as a tool for empowering marginalized populations and their allies through creative, collaborative problem-solving.

Who created Theatre of the Oppressed?

Theatre of the Oppressed was created by Augusto Boal, a Brazilian theatre actor, activist, playwright, and revolutionary.

What are some of the fields where Theatre of the Oppressed is applied?

Theatre of the Oppressed extends into popular education, pedagogy, activism circles, therapeutic models, social work, and is also used at South Carolina State University.

How does Theatre of the Oppressed help in addressing social issues?

It helps by rehearsing creative, collaborative problem-solving, allowing participants to deconstruct and address issues such as racism, sexism, ageism, ableism, and other forms of discrimination.

What is Forum Theatre and how does it differ from traditional theatre?

Forum Theatre is a form of Theatre of the Oppressed where the audience can intervene in the performance to change the outcome. It differs from traditional theatre by encouraging more democracy on stage and allowing storytelling to come from both the performers and the audience.

What is the role of the audience in Forum Theatre?

In Forum Theatre, the audience is not just a spectator but becomes a 'spect-actor', meaning they are encouraged to take action by intervening in the performance to help the protagonist overcome the challenges posed by an 'ism'.

What is the significance of the phrase 'I am an agent of change' used in the script?

The phrase 'I am an agent of change' signifies the empowerment of individuals to take action and be part of the solution to social issues, rather than just being passive observers.

What are some ground rules or guidelines mentioned for participating in Forum Theatre?

The guidelines include understanding that the protagonist has options, the antagonist can change, and an ally can alter the course of the play. Additionally, the magic of the theatre should lead to real-world solutions for real-world problems.

How does the speaker intend to engage the TEDx audience in the Theatre of the Oppressed?

The speaker intends to engage the audience by having them actively watch for issues in the performance and think about how they would solve them, eventually inviting them on stage to participate in an improvisation to solve the presented problem.

What is the ultimate goal of rehearsing small issues in Theatre of the Oppressed?

The ultimate goal is to prepare participants to tackle bigger real-world problems by practicing solutions in a safe and supportive environment.

What does the speaker mean when they say 'we need you to be the change'?

The speaker is encouraging the audience to actively participate in creating positive change in the world by taking the lessons learned from Theatre of the Oppressed and applying them to real-life situations.