In applied theatre, there are categories of theatre. Eg. Popular theatre, Theatre of the Oppressed, Theatre for development, etc. So I will be focusing on Theatre of the Oppressed, by Boal, because it is significant and can help change the world into a better place to live in through dialogue, action and reflection. They are essential in schools to educate students into being people that loves and liberates others from oppression.
Applied theatre is then a medium where we make sense in, make links and connections between and using the given authority to change and help make the world a better place to live in. Identifying problems, reflect and reconstruct ideas. In a sense, it renews one's mind, not just cleanse, but to transform the mind into a more considerate, respectful, empathetic and concerned mind.
Usually applied theatre occur in unprepared or rather informal places such as an open field, or even a space in a shopping center. The audiences could range, it depends on how interested they are. Prendergast & Saxton (2010) stated that 'Applied theatre works overtly either to reassert or to undermine socio-political norms, as its intent is to reveal more clearly the way the world is working.' (Pg 8) It seeks to find the roots of the problems and to remove them with a tool (in this case Applied Theatre conventions), then replacing it with new ideas and perspectives. It cause us to step back, re-examine the world and be engaged in social change. Afterall, we all play a part in changing the world.
Theatre of the Oppressed
Dialogue is a crucial need in the transformation of the world. Words are powerful tools that are not empty, they mean something and has power to give blessings, embrace, hurt or to curse. However, in the case of dialogue, it is always creating and recreating, never degrading and hostile. It is, as what Freire (1970) described, 'naming of the world' (Pg 70). Additionally he goes on to say 'Dialogue cannot exist, however, in the absence of a profound love for the world and for people.' (Pg70). This love drives the act of creation forward. It liberates people from oppression.
'Love is what makes faith works' (Raiborde, 2011, Pg 68). Even Freire stated that 'Dialogue further requires an intense faith in humankind, faith in their power to make and remake, create and re-create, faith in their vocatio...' (Pg 71) We need to have this faith to make things possible for change, and this requires huge amount of real love. I feel that we have to have this heart of empathy for the people and the heart that wants to see justice done and people living righteously. And when we have the faith, we do not fear and doubt the power for change to happen. We believe and do it out of love for the people. If this is the cry of our hearts, we will definitely see change happen through applied theatre.
What I hope to achieve
I hope that through Applied Theatre, faith and love will manifest and there will be this desire to see change to happen. Change for the good and better. I want to learn how to engage people and use drama to arouse their emotions, stir up a passion inside them. Not just to ignite a fire in them but to also cause them to want to do something to stop oppression and things that defile the world and make that change for the better. So that the world will be in harmony.
Bibliography
Prendergast, M. & Saxton, J. Ed. (2010). Applied Theatre: International Case Studies and Challenges for Practice. USA: Intellect.
Raiborde, N. (2011). Do the Impossible. USA: Furrow Press.
Freire, P (1970). Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Englang: Penguin Books.
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