An Introduction to Forum Theatre

Forum Theatre is one of the methodologies that form part of the Theatre of the Oppressed arsenal of techniques for social change. theatreoftheoppressed.org Forum Theatre Project in East Lancashire In 2009 Global Link delivered an Arts Council-funded forum theatre and community cohesion project in East Lancashire schools. Our forum theatre practitioner used Theatre of the Oppressed techniques to explore issues of identity, diversity and community cohesion with primary and secondary pupils. The pupils then created a forum theatre play about local issues relating to community cohesion which they performed and 'forummed' with other pupils in their schools. For more information about the project, have a look at the Project Evaluation.

Click here for more information about other workshops
Alternatively take a look at our community cohesion section

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Forum Theatre Training

Although not currently available, in the past Global Link has provided training in forum theatre and other Theatre of the Oppressed techniques.

Global Link has also produced, and toured, the following forum theatre plays/workshops:

'Sam gets a Letter'

Forum theatre workshops exploring what pupils can do about climate change in their school

'Ally Comes to Cumbria', commissioned by Cumbria LEA.

'Ally comes to Cumbria' is the story of a black girl who moves to an all-white school in Cumbria where she is subject to racist bullying, and the play ends sadly for all concerned. The audience, or "spectActors", are invited, during the second performance, to intervene whenever they think the central protagonist (who could be one of them) should do something to prevent the racist behaviour from occurring. The "spectActor" can "rehearse for reality" by replacing the protagonist and show the audience what they think the protagonist should have done; the actors improvise back, in character, and the audience decide whether it was a successful intervention or not. In this way the pupils, enraged by the racist bullying, can change the outcome of the play and reflect on their own attitudes and behaviour in the process.

'Just Passing', commissioned by Cumbria LEA

This play and workshop challenges myths and stereotypes about refugees and asylum-seekers and Gypsies/Travellers. 'Just Passing' tells the story of Nadine who is an asylum seeker from Zimbabwe attending a secondary school in Cumbria and Francis Boswell who is a Gypsy and school dinner lady. Nadine is bullied by the racist Kyle, who is also involved in a campaign to get Francis evicted from her land. Once again, the play ends sadly and the audience, enraged by Kyle, intervene to change the story of the play.