To launch a new Theatre of the Oppressed project in Wales called HeadsUp Theatre, The Republic of the Imagination is offering three weekend training sessions.

Each weekend will explore different aspects of The Theatre of the Oppressed, developed by the Brazilian dramaturge Augusto Boal and used globally as a tool for social and personal transformation.

1st - 3rd November Forum Theatre - a method of using theatre to explore oppression that manifests externally in relationships or through the impositions of culture and society through institutions. We prepare and enact scenarios of a general nature but based on the participants' real experiences. And through interventions from the spectators - or spect-actors we practice together strategies to transform them. The training will end on the Sunday with a public Forum Theatre performance.

8th - 10th November Rainbow of Desires - a method of using theatre to explore oppressions that manifest in our relationship with ourselves that inhibits us from achieving our natural capacity or compels us to behave in ways we do not wish to in significant relationships. There is a commitment in joining this training to remain for the whole period and also to take personal responsibility for the material one wishes to bring to the group. It is also likely that this workshop might overrun the stated times.

15th - 17th November Joker training - for those who would like to explore the role of facilitating Theatre of the Oppressed, and in particular Forum Theatre. It is necessary to have attended one of the previous training sessions to attend this training, or at least to have some experience of Theatre of the Oppressed.

HeadsUp operates with the principal of being the change we seek, and we really want to live in a gift economy. So the sessions cost nothing BUT (there’s always a but) the suggested donation is £30 for each weekend. Pay what you can. If you can pay more please do so. The money, after paying for the venue, will go in a fund to enable our next adventure.

The training will be led by Iwan Brioc, one of the most experienced Theatre of the Oppressed practitioners in the world and an international trainer in Context Oriented Theatre - which you can read about here www.troti.org. And Aleksandra Jones, a TO practitioner from Serbia with 10 years experience using TO in projects for Red Cross, Unicef, CARE International, Handicap International and European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights.

The training schedule for each weekend is 19:00 - 22:00 Friday, 10:00 - 4:00 Saturday and 10:00 - 4:00 Sunday (Sundays will be at another location TBC)

Book Here