A UNESCO-recognized educational tool for implementing social change, FORUM THEATRE is a community-focused, facilitated style of theatre designed to address social issues and inspire action for change. Forum Theatre gives communities the agency to develop their own grassroots solutions and the ability to envision the positive outcomes of creating social change. The techniques of Forum Theatre creation are transferable to a wide range of community engagement and educational initiatives. Workshop participants will receive the skills to become better facilitators, artists, community leaders, and more socially-aware educators.
We are so glad to be receiving multiple requests for workshops throughout the year. And in response, we are now holding workshops every 3-4 months! Please check back on this page (or subscribe to our newsletter using the link at the bottom of the page) to be the first in the know about upcoming workshop offerings as they are announced.
Upcoming Workshops
FORUM THEATRE CREATION | ONLINE | 4-EVENING SESSION
Forum Theatre is an interactive and participatory style of theatre designed to address social issues and inspire actionable change.
This four-part workshop, led by award winning Forum Theatre artist Simon Malbogat and Theatre of the Oppressed facilitator Swetha Ranganathan, will teach participants how to use theatre games and exercises to create Forum Theatre with and for various community groups.
Participants will:
- Learn about the history and working principles of Forum Theatre
- Participate in the step-by-step process of creating a Forum Theatre scene virtually with community members
- Learn key games and exercises (virtual formats) which facilitate community sharing, conflict analysis, and creation
- Have an overview of performance facilitation (joking) Receive a guide/manual for games and exercises (with virtual format alternatives)
While the objectives and learning are directed towards virtual community engagement; key principles and techniques can also be applied to in-person delivery.
This workshop will help community organizers, social workers, and educators discover how including Forum Theatre principles and activities in their everyday practice can initiate vital conversation, engage in critical inquiry, and create social change in their communities.
These workshop sessions will take place completely over Zoom.
Dates: Wed January 27th, Thurs January 28th, Wed February 3rd and Thurs February 4th, 2021
Time: 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM (ET)
Location: Online via Zoom
Cost: $180.00 + HST (-25% CAEA, Student, Underwaged)
Prerequisites: None!
FORUM THEATRE PERFORMANCE FACILITATION (JOKING) | ONLINE | 4-EVENING SESSION
A Joker is: a good listener, a clown, energetic, calm, enthusiastic, patient, blunt, tactful, supportive, provoking, non-judgmental, inquisitive, humorous, non-didactic, elucidating, decisive, democratic…
The “Joker” is the facilitator responsible for the Forum Theatre process. The person in this role leads participants as the play evolves, becoming the liaison between community “spect–actors” and the characters on stage.
This four-evening workshop, led by award winning Forum Theatre artist Simon Malbogat and Theatre of the Oppressed facilitator Swetha Ranganathan will delve further into this role of the Joker in Forum Theatre presentations, teaching participants how to:
- Develop a Forum Theatre scenario from a universal story of oppression
- Guide audiences in their transformation from spectator to “spect-actors”
- Create a safe space for both performers and audiences while also expecting vulnerability
- Ask questions to elicit audience intervention
While the objectives and learning are directed towards virtual community engagement; key principles and techniques can also be applied to in-person delivery.
This workshop will build on the lessons taught in the “Introduction to Forum Theatre” and “Forum Theatre Creation” workshops held previously, focusing more intensely on the facilitation of the final presentation. Having a working knowledge of Forum Theatre creation from one of these workshops or practical experience is a prerequisite to this workshop.
Artists, educators, and anyone working with community will learn ways to integrate principles of Forum Theatre Joking to Forum Theatre performances or any other community dialogue setting or event.
These workshop sessions will take place completely over Zoom.
Dates: Wed February 10th, Thurs February 11th, Wed February 17th and Thurs February 18th, 2021
Time: 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM (ET)
Location: Online via Zoom
Cost: $200.00 + HST (-25% CAEA, Student, Underwaged)
Prerequisites: Due to the content being taught in the workshop, participants are required to have a working knowledge of Forum Theatre creation (from taking one of our introductory workshops, or from your own experience creating Forum Theatre with communities)
Bundle Discount: Register for both Forum Theatre Creation AND Forum Theatre Performance Facilitation and receive a special bundle price of $350.00 + HST for both workshops, as well as a 25% discount for CAEA, Students and those identifying as underwaged.
“Pay What You Can”
If you have questions about fees, please write to info@mixedcompanytheatre.com for details.
*In the spirit of removing financial barriers to access, Mixed Company Theatre is able to offer a limited number of “Pay What Your Can” payment options to those who require financial assistance in order to attend our workshops. Please indicate your need for this option through the registration form for the workshop(s) you wish to attend.
Venue
Our January/February 2021 workshops will be held online through Zoom. The link for the workshop will be sent to participants after receiving payment. For those unfamiliar with Zoom, the facilitators will start the workshops with a general overview of the important features for participating in the workshop activities.
Payment
- Please make all cheques payable to “Mixed Company Theatre.” Cheques can be mailed to 540 Dawes Road, Apt 407, East York ON M4B2E9.
- For payments through Interac e-transfer, please email us at info@mixedcompanytheatre.com.
- Cash payments are not permitted.
- Payment must be made on or before the start date of your workshop.
What Participants Are Saying About Our Workshops
- “The course was very respectful and aware of all people at the level or moment where they were at. It created a safe space to try and learn.”
- “Although I was with strangers, I didn’t feel intimated or shy, I was relaxed, open to learning and felt very comfortable.”
- “I loved the games and activities – so varied and got me out of my comfort zone.”
- “The adaptations for online use of activities were extremely helpful.”
About Forum Theatre Instructor Simon Malbogat
Simon Malbogat is an award-winning theatre director, performer, and teacher with over 25 years of experience in Forum Theatre facilitation. Simon studied with the greatest contemporary popular theatre practitioners (Augusto Boal, Jerzy Grotowski, Eugenio Barba, Yoshi Oida) and has directed and acted in over 50 new Canadian works. Throughout his career, Simon has been focused on bringing theatre to youth, resulting in over 40 Forum Theatre plays for young people and has worked with many community organizations such as the Community Initiative Project, Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club, the East End Community Health Centre, the Sears Drama Festival for Youth, the Social Planning Council of Peel and the Toronto West End Community. He has also taught at The University of Toronto, York University, Humber College, Queen’s and Brock University.
About Playwriting Instructor Luc Iogna
MCT Associate Artist Luciano Iogna has worked in theatre for over forty years across Canada. He has worked internationally on four continents in a dozen different languages, with more than two hundred theatres, communities, and educational institutions as an actor, writer, director and instructor. Luc has worked extensively using Forum Theatre and Theatre of the Oppressed techniques on issues such as AIDS to workplace safety and violence, and he has worked with diverse cultural communities, trade unions, women’s organizations, and professional associations.
As playwright, Luciano has scripted more than 120 Forum Theatre produced plays. Two of his Forum Theatre plays produced by Mixed Company Theatre (SHOWDOWN and HOW CAN YOU TELL?) were nominated for Dora Awards.
About Masks of Manipulaton Instructor Peter Jarvis
Peter Jarvis has been an entertainer & performance artist since 1979. Facilitating artistic mime, dance, clown, mask and music have allowed Peter to work extensively in film, theatre and television on such shows as Sesame St and Cirque du Soleil. Peter Jarvis continues to enjoy performing internationally in the USA, England, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Poland, and Turkey. The Masks of Manipulation shown in the above photo are but one example of Peter’s talent as a professional designer and creator of masks.
About Mixed Company Theatre
Mixed Company Theatre has been producing innovative, socially-relevant theatre as a tool for positive change since 1983. Today Mixed Company Theatre is known for their commitment to inspiring communities and schools across Canada to create social change through theatrical practice. Our most recent activations include the InterGEN Project, a three-year initiative to connect seniors and youth from culturally diverse communities across the GTA through a series of creative workshops led by professional artists. These tales of family, migration, and cultural displacement was developed into two full-scale theatrical productions by renowned Toronto artists, Shelf Life and Spring Moon, which was covered by CBC News and OMNI Television.