Theatre of the Oppressed Qualification Course 2024 

This course offers theoretical and practical bases for the understanding of the Theatre of the Oppressed method as a whole, underlining its feminist perspective for the development of its praxis: critical analysis and aesthetic representation of the reality for the creation of spaces for dialogue.

The theoretical part includes the main concepts that structure the core of the method which is an essential content for the adequate development of each of its several techniques.

The practical bases are composed by exercises, games and techniques that constitute aesthetic strategies allowing the identification and investigation of the areas of interest of the target groups. The methodology aims at investigating the contextual dimensions of the problems identified in order to frame the question of the group and produce its Forum Theatre play.

The Qualification Course is based on the Aesthetics of the Oppressed and is structured by the dramaturgy of the Theatre of the Oppressed, using various techniques such as Image Theatre, Forum Theatre and Newspaper Theatre.

The course is open for everyone who wants to deepen their knowledge and develop a practice in Theatre of the Oppressed using its feminist perspective and is interested in the Aesthetics of the Oppressed.

The Qualification Course 2023 is composed by:

  1. Online Course: Online Course

Each Online Meeting will have a set of articles, films and videos related with each of the online course. The contents will be offered in advance for the participants. The discussion is based on the material and on questions by the participants.

Theoretical contents:

  • The Tree of Theatre of the Oppressed (an overview of the method)
  • Oppression (as a fundamental concept of the method)
  • Social Context / ASCESE / Metaphor (the contextual approach for theatre production)
  • Aesthetic of the Oppressed (the path of artistic process and production)

  1. Practical Course: 19th – 25th August 2024 (10:00 / 15:00)

At the face-to-face course the theoretical concepts studied in the online course will be practically applied during the development of different techniques.

Practical contents:

  • Image Theatre and Forum Theatre: framing the question
  • IMAGE: Aesthetics of the Oppressed
  • Sound / Rhythm: Aesthetics of the Oppressed
  • WORD: Aesthetics of the Oppressed
  • Dramaturgy
  • Newspaper Theatre – how to develop the contextual approach
  • extra program: Forum Theatre presentation, film, seminar, discussion…
  1. Forum Theatre Play Production and public presentation (18th , 19th August – 19h)

The artistic process of producing a Forum Theatre Play offers the possibility for combining all theoretical and practical contents of the course. It will also be a concrete journey by way of Feminist Theatre of the Oppressed specificities as contextual approach, aesthetic proposals and the innovative way to develop the dialogue with the audience through the Collective Intervention. During the public presentation it will be possible to understand the specific role of the Kuringa (facilitator of the discussion with the audience) in this kind of Forum Session.

Language: English

Registration: qualification@kuringa.org

Location: UferStudios Berlin-Wedding (Studio 14)

Badstr.41a 13357 Berlin (U8 Pankstraße)

*Further information, possibilities of participation, questions of payment, please contact us by E-mail

KURINGA Theatre of the Oppressed Qualification Course  is designed by Bárbara Santos, who was colleague of Augusto Boal in Brazil for two decades as general coordinator of the Centre of Theatre of the Oppressed (CTO) working in the design, implementation, coordination, supervision and evaluation of training programs in several countries and as a collaborator in artistic productions, as well as in the investigation, conception and development of Legislative Theatre and Aesthetics of the Oppressed.

The Qualification Course in Berlin is implemented with Christoph Leucht and Till Baumann, long-term collaborators of Bárbara and co-founders of KURINGA – Space for Theatre of the Oppressed.

The KURINGA Qualification combines the theoretical deepening with practical experiences, contributing to the consistent development of the praxis of the method. This initiative aims at producing a base for a consistent and reliable curriculum for permanent qualification  in the Method of Theatre of the Oppressed and to stimulate the groundwork for the transformation of reality through formation of and exchange between TO community groups.

Knowledge and experience are developed through collective artistic productions, which are a practical application of the theoretical concepts, and can become a reference for the multiplication process.

@kuringa_berlin

BIBLIOGRAPHY

BOAL, Augusto. Técnicas latino-americanas de teatro popular, São Paulo, Hucitec, 1988.

___. Teatro do Oprimido e outras poéticas políticas. Rio de Janeiro, Civilização Brasileira, 1988.

___. The Rainbow of Desire: The Boal Method of Theatre and Therapy. London and New York, Routledge, 1995.

___. Legislative Theatre. London, (also USA and Canada), Routledge, 1998.

___. Hamlet and the Baker’s Son. London, (also USA and Canada), Routledge, 2001.

___. Games for Actors and non-actors. London, (also USA and Canada) Second Edition. Routledge, 2002.

___. Teatro como Arte Marcial. Rio de Janeiro, Garamond, 2003.

___. A Estética do Oprimido. Rio de Janeiro, Garamond, 2009.

SANTOS, Bárbara. Identity in Diversity. Scripting Power: Jana Sanskriti On and Offstage. Edited by Dia Da Costa. Kolkata, CAMP, 2010, pp. 159–170.

___. Percursos Estéticos – abordagens originais sobre o Teatro do Oprimido. São Paulo, padê editorial, 2018.

___. Theatre of the Oppressed ROOTS & WINGS a theory of praxis. Los Angeles – USA, KURINGA in conjunction with UCLA Art & Global Health Center and UCLA Prison Education Program, 2019

___. Teatro de las Oprimidas – estéticas feministas para poéticas políticas. Buenos Aires, Ediciones del Signo, 2020.