Description: Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed is rooted in a commitment to social justice, equipping participants with creative tools to analyze power, practice collective resistance, and imagine alternatives. Forum Theatre is one of the most widely known techniques in Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed. Its power lies in two intertwined skills: devising stories that reveal systemic oppression and “Jokering”—hosting the on-stage debate that turns passive spectators into active spect-actors.

In this two-day intensive, internationally renowned Joker Julian Boal will guide you through both, offering an international perspective on this global practice. Together, we’ll learn by doing and sharpen the Joker's toolkit as we tackle core artistic and political questions of the form, such as:

• How can we represent the brutality of an oppressor as the result of a system, not just “bad apples”?
• How do we stage interpersonal violence to reveal how society permits and encourages it?
• How do Jokers invite interventions in ways that engage the entire public present?
• How can a Joker reflect diverse viewpoints without steering the scene—and keep the collective quest for change at the center?

Who should attend:

• Educators, organizers, and artists seeking concrete tools for collective action
• First-timers seeking an accelerated on-ramp to Forum Theatre
• Practitioners ready to deepen or sharpen their Joker skills

In a time of global crises, this training offers skills for leadership, collaboration, and transformation that our communities urgently need.

We are hosting this intensive in place of our typical “Level 1” Joker training.  Please note: This is a rare training opportunity that may not repeat in 2026.

Facilitator Bio: JULIAN BOAL is a teacher, researcher, and practitioner of Theatre of the Oppressed. He has facilitated workshops in more than 25 countries and has collaborated on several international festivals of Theatre of the Oppressed: in India with Jana Sanskriti, in Spain with Pa’tothom, in Portugal with Óprima, in Croatia with the Istrian National Theater, in France with GTO-Paris, and in Brazil with CTO-Rio. He is co-founder (with Geo Britto) and pedagogical coordinator of Escola de Teatro Popular (ETP; The School of Popular Theatre, in Rio de Janeiro), a school run by social movements for social movements, where political unity is practiced at the grassroots level through the practice of theatre.

Dates & Times: November 1, 2025 1p-7p and November 2, 2025 1p-7p (participants will be expected to attend both days)

COVID policy: In order to keep our community safe, we require attendees to wear masks, unless they have received a negative COVID test result within 24 hours of the event. Please bring a photo of your negative test result or a test will be provided onsite.

We understand that plans can change! If you need to cancel your registration, please email us as soon as possible at [email protected]. Full refunds are available up to 7 days before the training. Cancellations made within 7 days of the training are non-refundable. In extraordinary circumstances, TONYC may offer a partial credit toward a future training at our discretion.

Thank you for your understanding and support!