285

Arte Útil archive nr:

285

Initiator:

Augusto Boal

Location:

Brazil

Category:

pedagogical, politics, social

Users:

Augusto Boal, actors and spect-actors.

Maintained by:

Augusto Boal

Certification:

implemented

Duration:

1956-ongoing

Augusto Boal
-
Theatre of the Oppressed: Legislative Theater

Description:

A theater system that promotes social and political change. In the Theatre of the Oppressed, the audience becomes active and as "spect-actors" they explore, show, analyse and transform the reality in which they are living. As Vereador (city councilman) in Rio de Janeiro (1993-1996), Boal created the "legislative theatre", a new means to give his voters the opportunity to voice their opinions generating a "transitive democracy," which lies in between direct democracy (practiced in ancient Greece) and delegate democracy.

Goals:

Use theatre as means of promoting social and political change and to study, discuss and express issues concerning citizenship, culture and various forms of oppression using theatrical language, opening up a flow of power between both groups.

Beneficial Outcomes:

The subject of the production is based on a proposed law to be passed.
Some 13 laws were created through legislative theatre during Boal's government.

Images:

Legislative Theater. Courtesy of Center for the Theatre of the Oppressed in Rio de Janeiro (CTO).
Augusto Boal, Movimento Dos Trabalhadores Rurais sem Terra. Courtesy of Center for the Theatre of the Oppressed in Rio de Janeiro (CTO).