This module will introduce students to the work of theatre practitioner Augusto Boal and his pioneering approach to theatre for social change. The theory and practice of Forum Theatre will be studied and explored; as well as preceding and proceeding practices such as Image Theatre, Invisible Theatre and Legislative Theatre.

Students will create, devise and perform in a short piece of Forum Theatre to deepen knowledge and understanding of the theory.

Following the completion of the project students will take part in an oral reflection on the work. This may take the form of round table discussion, post-show debate, research poster with presentation or viva voce depending on the nature of the final project and the appropriateness of the reflection required therefore.

BOAL. A. 2002. Games for Actors and Non Actors. Routledge
BOAL, A. 2000. Theatre of the Oppressed. Pluto Press
BOAL, A. 1995. The Rainbow of Desire. Routledge
BOAL, A. 1998. Legislative Theatre: Using Performance to Make Politics. Routledge.
COHEN-CRUZ, J. 2006. Dialogues on Theatre and Cultural Politics. Routledge.
O’CONNOR, P. 2015. Applied Theatre: Research, radical departures. Bloomsbury.
PRENDERGAST, M. 2009. Applied Theatre: international case studies and challenges for practice. Intellect.
PRENTKI, T. 2015. Applied Theatre: Development. Bloomsbury.
PRENTKI, T. 2009. The Applied Theatre Reader. Routledge.

Library Facilities, computers and internet access.
Rehearsal rooms and performance spaces.
The Blackboard Virtual Learning environment will be available (where relevant) to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook.

Initial workshops will focus on the development and application of Forum Theatre, from its origins in Brazil with Boal to current hybrids from the work of UK organisations such as Cardboard Citizens and international organisations such as Formaat in Amsterdam.

Workshops will allow students to focus on the methodologies and techniques required to create a successful forum theatre piece.

Rehearsals will see students devise, script and structure a piece of Forum Theatre leading to an interactive performance.

The oral reflection will allow for analysis and critical reflection on the theory and practice of this genre.

First: Forum Theatre Project weighted at 80% (Outcomes 1,2,3)
Students will structure, devise and perform in a short piece of Forum Theatre to deepen knowledge and understanding of the theory.

Final: Oral reflection weighted at 20% (Outcomes 2,3,4,5)
You will be individually assessed on your ability to orally reflect on the work through the process of round table discussion, post-show debate, research poster with presentation or viva voce depending on the nature of the final project and the appropriateness of the reflection required therefore. Your individual contribution to this reflection would last no more than 15 minutes.

1. UTILISE PRACTICAL AND THEORETICAL SKILLS IN THE CREATION OF A FORUM THEATRE PROJECT AS A THEATRE PRACTITIONER.
Creativity

2. DEMONSTRATE A SYSTEMATIC UNDERSTANDING OF KEY ASPECTS OF FORUM THEATRE THROUGH THE ACQUISITION OF COHERENT AND DETAILED KNOWLEDGE OF THE SUBJECT INFORMED BY BOTH ACADEMIC AND PRACTICAL EXPLORATIONS.
Knowledge and Understanding

3. EXERCISE CRITICAL JUDGEMENT OF THE THEORY AND CURRENT DEBATES AND USAGE OF FORUM THEATRE AND HOW THIS RELATES TO its PRACTICE IN REAL WORLD CONTEXTS.
Analysis

4. DEMONSTRATE AN ABILITY TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY IN REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE INCLUDING ATTENDANCE, PUNCTUALITY AND ENSEMBLE WORKING.
Creative Collaboration