Description

Theatre of the Oppressed (T.O.) is a widely recognized form of liberatory theatre that centers the lived experiences of the communities it involves and validates their perspectives, emphasizing transformation and social justice.  In this workshop, participants will gain insight into how they can integrate T.O. principles and practices, including facilitating exploration and questioning of current realities, promoting critical thinking, cultivating effective communication through thoughts, feelings, and ideas, and challenging the dominant culture and established ways of teaching and learning, into their teaching philosophy, practices, and curriculum to enhance language learning. 

Through engaging embodied exercises, storytelling, and role-playing, participants will experience firsthand the power of theatre to promote critical thinking, communication skills, and self-expression. Drawing on T.O. principles and techniques, participants will learn how to create a safe and inclusive space where learners can share their stories and perspectives and develop a critical vocabulary to enhance verbal, gestural, and written communication and thinking to develop their own voices in the classroom. Using personal stories and lived experiences, learning can be creative, experiential, and embodied, allowing learners to develop their own voices in the classroom.  

Participants will also explore the connections between language and power, and gain a deeper understanding of how Theatre of the Oppressed can be used as an interdisciplinary approach to course content to equip their learners with the vocabulary and critical thinking skills necessary to navigate oppressive systems and structures in society. 

The workshop will highlight the importance of placing dialogue and collaboration at the center of learning, empowering learners to become active agents of change in their communities. Participants will gain practical strategies for integrating Theatre of the Oppressed into their teaching practices and curriculum, enhancing language learning, and promoting social justice. 

Location

In-Person or Virtual

Learning Intentions

In this workshop, educators will: 

• Participate in a warm-up activity commonly used to prepare participants to engage in Theatre of the Oppressed  

• Gain an understanding of T.O. origin, purpose, and principles and explore the integration of T.O. principles into teaching philosophy and practices  

• Use personal stories and lived experiences for creative learning by participating in a story circle and two Image Theatre activities 

• Debrief and reflect on learnings through dialogue 

YA Connections

• NJSLS-VPA: Artistic Process; Creating; Anchor Standard 1: Conceptualizing & Generating Ideas Artistic Process; Responding
• Anchor Standard 7: Perceiving and Analyzing Products
• Artistic Process: Connecting
• Anchor Standard 11: Relating artistic ideas and works within societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding.

Professional Standards for Educational Leaders

• Standard 3: Equity & Culture
• Standard 4: Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment