Mandala Center for Change TOP Training

Dell’Arte welcomed Marc Weinblatt from the Mandala Center for Change to offer a certification training in the world-renowned Theatre of the Oppressed (T.O.) techniques, originally developed by Brazilian visionary, August Boal. Orbit Arts Teaching Artists and Dell’Arte staff participated with the intention of including lessons learned in our offerings at Pelican Bay.

T.O. is a participatory theatre practice that uses performance as a tool for social change. Instead of passive audiences, spectators become “spect-actors,” actively engaging in scenes that explore oppression and injustice, rehearsing ways to challenge power and imagine more equitable realities.The focus of the training included T.O.’s innovative community building Games, Image Theatre, and the problem-solving structure, and Forum Theatre. These highly accessible and adaptable techniques can be immediately applied by activists, community organizers, cultural animators, teachers, social workers, psychotherapists, and theatre artists, among others.

In order to best understand the real life power of the work, subject matter explored came directly from participants’ personal and collective real lived experiences. Incredible discussions were had and we thank everyone for coming out and supporting the work!