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Theatre of the Oppressed: Creating Imagery and Opening Dialogue to Build Community

"How do we create a clear understanding of the meaning and subtext of our words, goals, and ideals, when the word “mother” can mean someone nurturing or someone cruel (and everything in between), depending on our lived experience? Through Brazilian theorist and theatre practitioner Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed (TO), an embodied and participatory practice that transforms the audience from spectator to “spect-actor,” we find activities that can be used in classrooms, theatres, and community settings to aid us in finding our common ground. (This workshop will primarily share activities and lessons from Boal’s Image Theatre and Forum Theatre branches of TO.) Drawing on Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed, Paolo Friere’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed, the work of Theatre of the Oppressed NYC, and my own experience using TO games and exercises in classrooms with high school, college, and theatre communities, we will play and explore activities that allow communities to form trust and connection, while examining society and planning for a future free from oppression."

Rachel Solomon

Rachel Solomon (she/her) is a theatre artist and educator based in Rochester, NY. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Music Theatre from Nazareth University, and went on to receive her Master of Arts in Theatre Education from Emerson College. She has directed, taught, and performed in New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, including teaching at SUNY Geneseo, Nazareth University, Actors’ Shakespeare Project (Boston), and Boston Latin School. Recent directing credits include "Into the Woods" and "A Grand Night for Singing" at SUNY Geneseo, "John Proctor is the Villain" at Nazareth University, and "Ghost Story" and "The Christians" for Out of Pocket, Inc. Rachel’s interests have led her to train in Theatre of the Oppressed work with TONYC, and in Intimacy Direction with Theatrical Intimacy Education. She is also passionate about musical theatre and theatre for social change. Rachel is a member of the Ring of Keys: LGBTQ Musical Theatre Network.

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Risk Waiver & Photo Release

By participating in the ARTs + Change Virtual Conference, I acknowledge and assume responsibility for any inherent risks, including but not limited to technical issues (e.g., internet disruptions, data loss), privacy concerns (e.g., unauthorized sharing or recording), or physical injury (e.g., from movement-based workshops). I understand that the University of Rochester and its representatives are not liable unless due to gross negligence or willful misconduct. My participation is voluntary.

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