7th - 11th March 2005 Led by Adrian Jackson, featuring a demonstration performance from Cardboard Citizens 14th - 18th March 2005 Led by Augusto Boal and Adrian Jackson

Augusto Boal

A Brief Biography
by Doug Paterson

Brazilian Dr. Augusto Boal was raised in Rio de Janeiro. He was formally trained in chemical engineering and attended Columbia University in the late 1940's and early 1950's. Although his interest and participation in theatre began at an early age, it was just after he finished his doctorate at Columbia that he was asked to return to Brazil to work with the Arena Theatre in São Paulo. His work at the Arena Theatre led to his experimentation with new forms of theatre that would have an extraordinary impact on traditional practice.

Birth of the Spect-Actor
Prior to his experimentation, and following tradition, audiences were invited to discuss a play at the end of the performance. In so doing, according to Boal, they remained viewers and "reactors" to the action before them. In the 1960's Boal developed a process whereby audience members could stop a performance and suggest different actions for the actors, who would then carry out the audience suggestions. But in a now legendary development, a woman in the audience once was so outraged the actor could not understand her suggestion that she came onto the stage and showed what she meant. For Boal this was the birth of the spect-actor (not spectator) and his theatre was transformed. He began inviting audience members with suggestions for change onto the stage to demonstrate their ideas. In so doing, he discovered that through this participation the audience members became empowered not only to imagine change but to actually practice that change, reflect collectively on the suggestion, and thereby become empowered to generate social action. Theatre became a practical vehicle for grass-roots activism. (source: Pedagogy & Theatre of the Oppressed, READ MORE)

FORUM THEATRE WEEK 2005

As leading practitioners of Forum Theatre, Cardboard Citizens are happy to be hosting specialist training courses in various aspects of the Theatre of the Oppressed. The courses will be led by Augusto Boal and Adrian Jackson, with the participation of members of Cardboard Citizens, the UK's only homeless people's professional theatre company.

Led by Adrian Jackson, featuring a demonstration performance from Cardboard Citizens

WHEN 7th - 11th March 2005

WHERE London

HOW LONG 10am-6pm Monday - Friday

WHO FOR Anybody interested in working on issues with communities, using theatre as a tool for debate and social change; theatre practitioners, social activists, teachers, community organisers, youth workers. No experience necessary.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN Through the week participants will investigate the theory and practice of Forum Theatre, an interactive theatrical form originally devised by Augusto Boal for use in Latin America, but now widely applied in a variety of communities throughout the world as a tool for social change.

A number of simple games and exercises around trust, confidence and group integration will be introduced to equip participants to lead workshop sessions with their own groups. Techniques and approaches for finding what topics are 'hot' for a particular community will be offered, along with suggestions as to how to develop material.

Participants will work in groups to devise short Forum Theatre pieces.

Cardboard Citizens will also present a finished piece as a model and reference will be made to Legislative Theatre.

The culmination of the week will be a performance of the Forum Theatre pieces devised by the group to an invited audience.

Full Price (Statutory Organisations and Local Authorities) £400 plus VAT (£470)
Voluntary Organisations/Individuals (Registered Charities/Not For Profit Organisations/Individuals) £330 plus VAT (£387.75)

Reduced Rate (There are a limited number of places at a reduced rate available to people referred by voluntary organisations working in the area of social inclusion) £150 plus VAT (£176.25)

A £100 non-refundable deposit is payable on booking.

The balance is payable prior to the beginning of the course.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RAINBOW OF DESIRES

"Many people could explore this, not only professionals - it's life enhancing, challenging, a way of exploring other people's attitudes and points of view without feeling compromised, but having an opportunity to test your own." Course Participant - Rainbow of Desires

Led by Augusto Boal and Adrian Jackson

WHEN 14th - 18th March 2005

WHERE London

HOW LONG 10am-6pm Monday - Friday

WHO FOR People interested in using theatre as a tool to uncover the life of the mind; theatre practitioners already experienced in Forum Theatre and wishing to develop an understanding of Augusto Boal's work around theatre and therapy; dramatherapists and psychodrama practitioners; those interested in uncovering internalised oppression (as opposed to the external oppression dealt with in Forum Theatre).

WHAT WILL HAPPEN Through the week, Augusto Boal will introduce the work he has subtitled 'theatre and therapy' by means of anecdote, games and exercises. As the group develops the trust and confidence to share stories, the work will progress from simple image work to increasingly complex means of uncovering and confronting 'the cops in the head'. Each day will include focus on at least one of the major techniques contained in his book, The Rainbow of Desires. The mornings will be led by Adrian Jackson and will consist of opportunities to recap and to look at application of the work and for members of the group to experiment with leading games or exercises themselves.

Full Price (Statutory Organisations and Local Authorities) £500 plus VAT (£587.50)
Voluntary Organisations/Individuals (Registered Charities/Not For Profit Organisations/Individuals) £430 plus VAT (£505.25)
Reduced Rate (There are a limited number of places at a reduced rate available to people referred by voluntary organisations working in the area of social inclusion) £150 plus VAT (£176.25)
A £100 non-refundable deposit is payable on booking.
The balance is payable prior to the beginning of the course.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Accommodation and food are not included in the cost of the courses although refreshments will be served during breaks.

To book for either or both of the courses please send the following information to the address below and enclose a cheque (cheques payable to 'Cardboard Citizens')

NAME OF COURSE
NAME
ADDRESS
POSTCODE
DAY TEL
EVE TEL
EMAIL
What is your field of work?
Please state whether you have any access requirements that we should know about.

26 Hanbury Street, London, E1 6QR
Tel: 020 7247 7747
Fax: 020 7650 0002
company registration no. 2938531
charity registration no. 1042457

email: boudicca@cardboardcitizens.org.uk
web: www.cardboardcitizens.org.uk