Cancellation Notice:

Unfortunately, we have had to cancel our upcoming “Masks of Manipulation” online workshop session that was planned for June 19th and 26th, 2021. We are looking to reschedule it at a more convenient time, but in the meantime if you have any questions please write to communications@mixedcompanytheatre.com

Eight people in a Zoom meeting. They are all making different shapes with their bodies by moving their arms, head, neck, and hands.

Our Workshops

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

Masks of Manipulation: Online Workshop – CANCELLED

This workshop is facilitated by Simon Malbogat and will take place over two sessions.

  • Dates: Saturday June 19th & 26th, 2021
  • Time: 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM (ET)
  • Venue: Online via Zoom
  • Prerequisites: None!
  • Regular Price: $220 + HST
  • Discount for Students, CAEA, and those identifying as Underwaged: $165 + HST
  • PWYC: Limited number of PWYC payment options available (see details below)
Register Here for Masks of Manipulation!

Workshop Description

This two-part workshop will introduce participants to the “Masks of Manipulation,” an invaluable character development and conflict-resolution process designed by Simon Malbogat. Each mask relates to seven different emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual manipulative forces we encounter both onstage and in daily life. 

In this workshop you will… 

  • Learn how to identify various manipulative personas and de-escalate them effectively 
  • Learn how the masks of manipulation techniques can help communities identify and articulate the oppressive forces in their lives 
  • Use these personas to create authentic oppressive characters for the stage grounded in these manipulative forces 

This workshop draws on Commedia dell’Arte-inspired masks to help participants acquire a deeper awareness of manipulation and oppression: how and why it happens, what it looks and feels like, and how to deflect it. 

 This workshop, facilitated by Simon Malbogat, is suitable for artists, facilitators, educators, social workers, and community activators alike. 

Payment Details

Payment Methods

  • 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, and to ask any questions about fees, 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 in order to receive the Zoom link.

“Pay What You Can”

  • In the spirit of removing financial barriers to access, Mixed Company Theatre is able to offer a limited number of “Pay What You 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.

What Participants Are Saying About Our Workshops

“This workshop was a great introduction to Forum Theatre for me. Engaging and provoking, this work is great for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of power and power dynamics. The workshop has equipped me with all the necessary skills and knowledge to apply Forum Theatre in my community.”
– Ekaterina Reymarova, Creative Arts Therapy Facilitator, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
“The workshop is fun and interactive; I love that I got to attend it from across the globe in Singapore! Even though I had considerably less experience than some of the others, I did not feel out of place and felt that we were all learning together.”
“There is nothing like being in the hot seat, and having the visceral experience of facilitating/joking. It’s not something that you can learn overnight, but with a foundational layer and lots of feedback from people with experience, you’re more likely to stay in the game when it’s show time!”

Facilitator Bios

Masks of Manipulation Facilitator: 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.