Theatre as a tool for exploring development issues and raising awareness: Day 10

On the second day of our Theatre weekend, we focused on creating two plays in the style of Theatre of the Oppressed. While we have no pictures from this day, as we were all engrossed in creating the plays, we have the stories from the plays to share.

In two groups, all members set out to create meaningful and realistic plays. A main factor of Theatre of the Oppressed is the reality of the situations for the oppressed participants of the plays. So, each group aimed to choose an issue very relevant to the lives of the group members. One group chose to make their play about the issues migrants face in holding centers in Ireland. The other group centered their play around the powerlessness of the elderly who are often force by their family members into nursing homes.

As Mary explained, a plot for Theatre of the Oppressed always involves the Oppressed and the Oppressor. Other characters include an Ally, for each the Oppressor and Oppressed, and another supporting character who is usually a mediator of sorts.