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DEALING WITH CONFLICTS AND DISCRIMINATION WITH THE THEATRE OF THE OPPRESSED TECHNIQUES
Introduction and Description
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In contemporary educational environments, teachers and school staff increasingly face complex situations involving conflict, exclusion and discrimination. These challenges demand approaches that not only resolve tensions but also empower learners, strengthen relationships and promote a culture of participation and equity. This course offers an academically grounded yet highly experiential introduction to Theatre of the Oppressed (TO), Augusto Boal’s influential methodology for enabling individuals and communities to understand, question and transform the realities of oppression.
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Available in both 5-day and 10-day formats, the programme equips participants with creative, embodied and dialogic tools to explore the dynamics of power and conflict in their institutions. Through theatre games, Image Theatre, collaborative improvisation and the development of a Forum Theatre performance, participants learn to recognise patterns of discrimination, facilitate meaningful dialogue and rehearse strategies for constructive intervention. These methods foster empathy, critical thinking, intercultural awareness and active citizenship—competences central to the priorities of Erasmus+ and essential for inclusive and democratic school cultures.
The course speaks directly to the needs of teachers, school leaders, counsellors and support staff working in diverse classrooms. By engaging with TO techniques, participants develop new perspectives on behaviour, communication and classroom climate, while gaining practical methodologies that can be adapted for student workshops, staff development or whole-school initiatives. The process encourages creative risk-taking and reflective practice, helping educators reframe conflicts not as obstacles but as opportunities for learning, agency and positive transformation.
Whether undertaken in the concise 5-day version or the more immersive 10-day programme, the course provides a powerful professional development experience aligned with Erasmus+ goals for inclusion, social justice, empowerment and collaborative problem solving. Participants leave with transferable strategies, renewed confidence and a deeper commitment to fostering equitable and participatory learning environments in their schools and communities.
Outcomes
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Familiarizing with the Theatre of The Oppressed manifesto and techniques.
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Understanding of discrimination and conflict in diversity of their forms.
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Facilitating understanding of the language of theatre and ability to use its basic elements, the sound, the image and the movement to convey meaning and engage in dialogue.
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Improving understanding of sensations, feelings and thoughts through individual and collective perceptions.
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Facilitating juxtaposition of individual perceptions to form a deeper collective perception.
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Acquisition of games, exercises and techniques for de-mechanizing sensations, feelings, thoughts and perceptions.
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Learning versatile techniques and exercises from the arsenal of The Theatre of The Oppressed for externalizing internalized conflicts, addressing apathy and passivity and enhancing participation.
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Facilitating ability to create and facilitate a Forum Theatre performance.
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Developing communication, collaboration, presentation, problem solving, negotiation, critical and creative thinking skills.
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Improving English fluency (official language of the course).
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Promoting intercultural awareness.
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Sharing experiences of the use of Theatre of the Oppressed methods from different organizations in order to help each of us to be more effective in our work.
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Strengthening the European collaboration among people practicing the Theatre of The Oppressed methods in different contexts.
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Providing insights into different education systems.
Preparation
After registration participants will receive pre-course questionnaire which will be used by the trainer to learn about participants’ teaching backgrounds and to assess their exact needs. Before the beginning of the course a basic reading list will be suggested to participants to prepare for the training. Participants will also be asked to prepare a presentation about themselves, their professional context and their culture. The presentation will be presented on the first day of the course to facilitate networking opportunities. Participants will receive information about the country they are going to visit in order to prepare them for their cultural experience.
Follow up
After the course participants will be asked to share what they have learned with the rest of the staff in their schools. Further books and articles to deepen the topic and contacts with some other practitioners all over Europe and in the world will be suggested by the trainer. The methods shared and explored and the bibliography given will allow the participants to complete and improve their educational path.
5 days programme (25 hours)
course sessions (Monday to Friday)
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Introduction of participants, outline of the programme, warm ups and ice breakers
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Introduction to the Theatre of the Oppressed
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Creating a safe space for laboratory practice and developing the group dynamics
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Theatre games and exercises to get in touch with the body and mind and prepare for deconstruction of situations for analytical study
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Theatre of the Oppressed techniques of still images and body sculpturing for representing and experimenting with situations of conflict and discrimination
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Presentation of outcomes, discussion, evaluation and closing session
cultural and social programme
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Teambuilding and networking activities
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City tour or a cultural trip
10 days programme (50 hours)
course sessions (Monday to Friday + Monday to Friday)
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Introduction of participants, outline of the programme, warm ups and ice breakers
-
Introduction to the Theatre of the Oppressed
-
Creating a safe space for laboratory practice and developing the group dynamics
-
Theatre games and exercises to get in touch with the body and mind and prepare for deconstruction of situations for analytical study
-
Theatre of the Oppressed techniques of still images and body sculpturing for representing and experimenting with situations of conflict and discrimination
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Introduction to Forum theatre
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Search for knots and creating an embryo of a forum theatre play
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Practical workshop on production of a forum theatre play to address conflict or discrimination
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Individual support
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Presentation of outcomes, discussion, evaluation and closing session
cultural and social programme
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Teambuilding and networking activities
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City tour or a cultural trip
CERTIFICATE
Each participant will get a course attendance certificate and we will validate the acquired competences on the Europass Mobility upon request. Please note that we have a paperless policy and all the documents will be delivered in digital form.
COURSE FEE
The course fee is 80 € per day. It includes tuition and materials, cultural and social programme, support in preparation and all the administrative work. There are no additional costs or hidden fees. After registration, you will receive a pro-forma invoice which you will have to pay by bank transaction. You will receive the invoice after you attend the course.
SUBSISTENCE
The course fee doesn't include accommodation and meals and participants are responsible to organize them on their own. In some locations we might be able to recommend or organize subsistence for you. Please don't hesitate to contact us to inquire about any specific location.