Theatre of the Oppressed

“The theater itself is not revolutionary: it is a rehearsal for the revolution.”

Augusto Boal (1931-2009)

 

It is important to note that Theatre of the Oppressed is not a “play” or a production. It is a “rehearsal for revolution,” as Boal envisions it, to show people they can fight back against oppression in their lives. Inspired by Boal’s work, theatre companies began creating their own community-based theatre that required its participants to be involved and opinionated in order to begin changing their circumstances. Clearly, Boal’s work and research continues to have important, long-lasting effects on how theater-makers use theatre as a social tool.