Forum theatre

Let’s wiki on: Forum theatre

Augusto Boal developed and practised an orthodox methodology for forum theatre based on the interaction between his actors and his so-called "spect-actors". The spect-actor attempts to overturn the oppression using some method unused by the actors, whilst the actors portraying the oppressors improvise to attempt to bring the production to its original, scripted ending. If the audience believes that the spect-actor's actions are too unrealistic to be utilized in reality, they may call out "magic!", and the spect-actor must modify their actions accordingly. If this spect-actor fails in overthrowing the oppression, the actor resumes their character, and continues the production until another spect-actor calls out "stop! or freeze!" and attempts a different method.

If and when the oppression has been overthrown by the spect-actors, the production changes again the spect-actors now have the opportunity to replace the oppressors, and find new ways of challenging the oppressed character. In this way a more realistic depiction of the oppression can be made by the audience, who are often victims of the oppression. The whole process is designed to come to a conclusion through the consideration of opposing arguments, rather than where an argument is one-sided and pushed from the actors with no chance of reply or counter-argument.

So yes, I’ve just caught a forum theatre meant for secondary schools. Similar to my recent discovery that people actually dare to sing in front of a huge audience (during the singalong), students now have no qualms about voicing out their opinions and standing in front of the audience on the stage to act. Gone are the days when learning was one way (that was what it seemed to me in my whole education life till university where there were slightly more attempts to make you speak up). Of course, the forum theatre was a subtle way to make them think about societal issues and they might not even realise that this was meant for learning and evoking thoughts? Not boring readings compiled by English teachers now… they watch forum theatre to learn. Learning through the arts… I can only say kids now are so much luckier because I don’t remember having such a luxury.