Augusto Boal, Founder of Theatre of the Oppressed
Research Focus
Embodying Resilience Through Narrative-Based Theatre and Devised Community-Engaged Performance
Governing Questions
Areas of Research
Modes of Inquiry
Community Engagement/Archival research, script development, improvisation, and devising a piece
Ideological/ Methodological Approach
Theatre of the Oppressed, Augusto Boal
Theatre for Community, Conflict, and Dialogue, Michael Rohd
Community Engagement Theater methods/practices, Cornerstone Theatre Company
My aesthetic and artistic efforts are deeply informed by my applied theatre research, which is grounded in Performance as Research (PaR). My primary research focuses on the intersections of Race and Performance, Performance as Activism, and Narrative-based Performance, including both devised theatre and solo or ensemble-based work. Additionally, I explore theatre as a tool for social change, using performance to provoke dialogue and inspire action. My research empowers individuals and community organizations to create art that embodies change, revelation, and resistance. Theatre and the performing arts serve as mirrors to society, reflecting its attitudes and mindsets. They can also function as powerful tools for educating people about their current conditions, fostering awareness and inspiring transformation.
Applied Theatre, or Community-Engaged Theatre, encompasses a diverse array of practices aimed at provoking or shaping social change. As a practitioner, I begin many of my classes and performance projects by asking key questions: What is the story here? How can I best convey it to the audience? How can this work serve the community from within? My artistic praxis is organized into four phases: 1) concept, 2) creation, 3) performance, and 4) documentation.
"Applied Theatre is an umbrella term for the use of theatrical practices and creativity that take participants and audience members further than mainstream theatre, that is often in response to conventional people with real life stories" (Prentki). I have developed a skill set and practice that creates an open forum for both theatrical and non-theatrical individuals to explore their artistic curiosities through Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed and improvisational techniques. By offering resources and exercises that encourage the use of personal histories and experiences, I aim to foster a community of artists grounded in confidence and artistic integrity.
My research agenda supports the performative community-engaged initiatives provided through these training programs and provided instructional development in:
“Those who try to separate theatre from politics try to lead us into error.”- Augusto Boal. Through my creative scholarship, I explore social engagement and cultural critique, devising ensemble and solo-based works that examine the adverse effects of violence and injustice, particularly as amplified through social media, on the personal psyche. My work investigates how narrative-based storytelling can serve as a vessel for social resilience and redemption. These projects, titled Drama to Drama: From the Headlines to the Stage, address pressing topics such as racial injustice, gender equality, domestic violence awareness, and diversity/inclusion. Most of my projects are considered ‘works in progress,’ with variables consistently evolving throughout the process. I view the goals achieved as integral to the production itself, not the final product. I believe the creation’s completion is secondary to the collaborative journey of development. In my view, all theatre is both personal and political.
My creative research spans three key areas: directing, performer/playwright, and devised works
Understanding my Artistic Praxis
Every project in my creative work collection will reveal all four components of my artistic practice, varying information according to their context, content, and position.
1) Concept
2) Creation
3) Performance (or Works-in-Progress model)
4) Documentation
Presented as part of the 'Arts in the Library' series hosted by Old Dominion University Libraries, presented by Brittney S. Harris.
Topics Discussed:
Presented at the 2023 American Alliance for Theatre and Education National Conference (AATE), presented by Brittney S. Harris.
Topics Discussed:
Presented as part of the 'Arts in the Library' series hosted by Old Dominion University Libraries, presented by Brittney S. Harris.
Topics Discussed:
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I utilize the practices and criterion set forth by governing tenure and promotion guidelines of the Association of Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE). ATHE serves as a strong advocate for maintaining that system through the establishing and sustaining of tenure-track and tenured positions for faculty in the field of theatre and performance studies.