Difference between revisions of "Community Interactive Theater"

Difference between revisions of "Community Interactive Theater"

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{{Term|COMMUNITY INTERACTIVE THEATER|Group of theatre techniques and perfomances breaking the "fourth wall" that separates performers and audience physically as well as verbally. While in traditional theatre performance takes place in a designated stage area, the audience members passively observing the play; in '''interactive theatre''' performance often '''involves the audience actively'''. They may be invited to provide performance suggestions (as in improvisational theatre) or take part in the play as characters (as in Augusto Boal's forum theatre). The performance becomes a starting point for '''dialogue''' that often leads perfomers and audience to deal with difficult, complex topics. Interactional theatre is also helpful for therapeutic and educational purposes: in these cases, the audience may be asked to discuss pertinent issues with the performers.
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{{Term|COMMUNITY INTERACTIVE THEATER|Community interactive theatre can be seen literary to be the interaction between the theatre and the community. In other words, it is a cultural intervention that combines theatre with social action, aesthetics, pragmatism, and social involvement with intent to generate real change within a community. It is a theatre where the audience, players, scenic and costume designers (and even at times the playwrights) are drawing from the community themselves. Community interactive theatre has metamorphosed into a practice that is quite engaging thereby inviting professional practitioners from the theatre, education and social work. One of the reasons for such invitation is that it has become quite engaging, breaking that imaginary barrier existing between the actors on stage and the audience as the community in this case. This barrier is usually referred to as ‘the fourth wall’ in the field of theatre arts.
The main outcome of an interactive theater performance is often the '''increase of community strength, creativity, knowledge and competence'''. <ref> [http://www.kstoolkit.org/Community+Interactive+Theater www.kstoolkit.org] (27 May 2009), [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interactive_theater Wikipedia] (27 May 2009) </ref>}}
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It is indeed a learning experience for the participating community especially due to the fact that they are part of the solution.
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In the originating theatre cultures, over the years, the impact of community theatre has resulted into some different schools of thought. While some see community theatre as a tool that facilitates articulation and social activism within marginalized groups, others see it from the community development angle as an additional practice at the social workers disposal. The latter sees it as a rehabilitative, therapeutic and educational tool for groups with special needs. Additionally, most local actors see it from the bottom-up viewpoint as a theatre that articulates the excluded life experiences of marginalized groups with the intention of creating a difference in their community.  
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Despite the differences in interpretation and ideology, it is generally agreed that the main outcome of interactive community theatre is for exchanging knowledge, creative and participatory learning to create change in the community. By this, all the participants are involved in a learning process.
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. <ref> [http://www.kstoolkit.org/Community+Interactive+Theater www.kstoolkit.org] (27 May 2009), [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interactive_theater Wikipedia] (27 May 2009) </ref>}}
  
  
 
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Below you have a list of selected websites where you can find some interesting examples of exercises:}}
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Below you have a list of selected websites where you can find additional information and interesting examples of exercises:}}
  
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|[http://www.theatreoftheoppressed.com/#The%20Workshops www.theatreoftheoppressed.com]
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|[http://www.theatreoftheoppressed.org/en/index.php?useFlash=1 International Theatre of the Oppressed Organization]
|Example of a workshop of Theatre of the Oppressed.
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|General information on Theatre of the Oppressed.
 
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|[http://improvencyclopedia.org/games/index.html Improvencyclopedia.org]
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|[http://www.theatreoftheoppressed.com/#The%20Workshops International Theatre of the Oppressed Organization/Workshop]
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|Example of a workshop of Theatre of the Oppressed.
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|-
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|[http://improvencyclopedia.org/games/index.html Improv Encyclopedia/Games]
 
|Sample of exercises useful to improve improvisation skills.
 
|Sample of exercises useful to improve improvisation skills.
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|-
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|[http://improvencyclopedia.org/references/index.html Improv Encyclopedia/References]
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|Reference section related to Improvisation Theatre.
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|-
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|[http://improvencyclopedia.org/glossary/index.html Improv Encyclopedia/Glossary]
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|Glossary of terms related to Improvisation Theatre.
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|-
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|[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BreakingTheFourthWall Improv wiki/Glossary]
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|Glossary of terms related to Breaking The Fourth Wall.
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|[http://www.jstor.org/stable/25588402 Improv Jstor/Glossary]
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|Glossary of terms related to History of theatre.
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|[http://www.diversecitylondon.org/learning.html Creative Learning]
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|Glossary of terms related to Creative Learning.
 
|}
 
|}
  

Latest revision as of 11:33, 23 October 2012

Term2.png COMMUNITY INTERACTIVE THEATER
Community interactive theatre can be seen literary to be the interaction between the theatre and the community. In other words, it is a cultural intervention that combines theatre with social action, aesthetics, pragmatism, and social involvement with intent to generate real change within a community. It is a theatre where the audience, players, scenic and costume designers (and even at times the playwrights) are drawing from the community themselves. Community interactive theatre has metamorphosed into a practice that is quite engaging thereby inviting professional practitioners from the theatre, education and social work. One of the reasons for such invitation is that it has become quite engaging, breaking that imaginary barrier existing between the actors on stage and the audience as the community in this case. This barrier is usually referred to as ‘the fourth wall’ in the field of theatre arts.

It is indeed a learning experience for the participating community especially due to the fact that they are part of the solution.

In the originating theatre cultures, over the years, the impact of community theatre has resulted into some different schools of thought. While some see community theatre as a tool that facilitates articulation and social activism within marginalized groups, others see it from the community development angle as an additional practice at the social workers disposal. The latter sees it as a rehabilitative, therapeutic and educational tool for groups with special needs. Additionally, most local actors see it from the bottom-up viewpoint as a theatre that articulates the excluded life experiences of marginalized groups with the intention of creating a difference in their community.

Despite the differences in interpretation and ideology, it is generally agreed that the main outcome of interactive community theatre is for exchanging knowledge, creative and participatory learning to create change in the community. By this, all the participants are involved in a learning process.

. [1]


Link icon.png Web Resources
Below you have a list of selected websites where you can find additional information and interesting examples of exercises:
Link Content
International Theatre of the Oppressed Organization General information on Theatre of the Oppressed.
International Theatre of the Oppressed Organization/Workshop Example of a workshop of Theatre of the Oppressed.
Improv Encyclopedia/Games Sample of exercises useful to improve improvisation skills.
Improv Encyclopedia/References Reference section related to Improvisation Theatre.
Improv Encyclopedia/Glossary Glossary of terms related to Improvisation Theatre.
Improv wiki/Glossary Glossary of terms related to Breaking The Fourth Wall.
Improv Jstor/Glossary Glossary of terms related to History of theatre.
Creative Learning Glossary of terms related to Creative Learning.


References

  1. www.kstoolkit.org (27 May 2009), Wikipedia (27 May 2009)