Situations where people are lacking power are acted out and
interrupted during Theater of the Oppressed
Introduction to
Theater of Liberation
August 1-3, 2024
An interactive Applied Theater workshop to introduce local practitioners to tools that invite stories and explore solutions to community issues.
Facilitated by Marc Weinblatt from the
This is a unique training opportunity for local Eugene area people to learn the basics of Augusto Boal’s world renowned Theater of the Oppressed (T.O.) and Playback Theater from Marc Weinblatt, an internationally recognized leader who studied with Boal has worked with diverse communities ranging from police to homeless youth, grassroots organizers and laborers to University deans. Internationally, he has worked with activists in Norway, Holland, and Canada, youth workers in Guatemala, refugees in Azerbaijan, ex-combatants in Northern Ireland, construction workers in South Africa, slum families in India, community workers in the Republic of Congo, and victims of war in Afghanistan.
Playback Theater honors and serves the Teller’s real life story whereas T.O. includes personal stories as a springboard for the collective exploration. Both forms are interactive; both forms use physical imagery and improvisation; and both forms create a space for people to share stories, listen, heal and take action. They also are tremendous tools for movement-building around burning social justice issues.
No prior experience necessary though folks with prior experience with one or both forms could deepen their skills. The process includes community building, story sharing, and problem solving towards effective action.
"We believe that people have the wisdom to figure out what they need; our process recognizes this wisdom and provides opportunities to share stories and rehearse concrete actions and possible solutions for real challenges."
This training is limited to 20 participants
and is a rare opportunity
Tuition is $295
No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Daily Schedule: 9 AM to approximately 12:30 PM, resuming at 1:45 PM, closing at 5:30 PM.
Donations in support of scholarships
(not tax-deductible, sorry!)
For more information, https://www.mandalaforchange.com/
IMPACT
For the workshop participants:
New and renewed courage and confidence in interactive theater
Inspiration and networking connections for future collaboration/participation
Affirmation of their creative selves which results in greater generosity in all of their endeavors and relations
A reminder of their shared humanity and grace for themselves and others
For the workshop helpers:
An opportunity to take action, to give, to collaborate
An opportunity to champion the values of inclusion and kindness while addressing the needs of the community, and in particular supporting the artists and leaders toward greater action themselves
Helping to inform the community at large by sharing the stories of the underserved
Love in action; hospitality and generosity
A sense of teamwork in bettering the community
For the workshop audience:
An opportunity to be included, either by offering direction, suggestion, participation, or personal story... or by witnessing and thereby supporting the creation of the group
An opportunity to learn more about how theater can minister to the needs of people emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually
An opportunity to learn more about other humans and the stories they carry, the lives they live, and the hopes they long for
An opportunity to support the work of Outreach Theater and influence the direction going forward with their feedback or participation
For the community:
Interactive Theater Events
We hope to produce several Forum Theater events in public venues during 2025 and beyond.For future audiences:
Greater community understanding, grace, growth, learning and harmony. People feel valued by being heard and they are kinder to one another once they see themselves in one another. We hope to honor everyone’s story and grow together.