Please forward – apologies for cross-postings!

THEATRE OF THE OPPRESSED
For teachers, students, artists, social-workers, therapists, community-builders, anyone with a social question...

“Theatre of the Oppressed is the Game of Dialogue: we play and learn together.” - Augusto Boal, Rio de Janeiro 2004

Several opportunities to experience Augusto Boal's world-famous approach to theatrical community-building are coming very soon:

FACILITATOR TRAINING - 15-19 February 9.30-noon at UQ Ipswich campus – free except for one-off $15 membership fee
PUBLIC WORKSHOPS - February 14th, March 14th, April 11th 7-10pm at Indooroopilly Library – free!

BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR ALL: email
* your name,
* mobile number and
* the dates you want to attend to Anne

Note that for the public workshops minors are required to be accompanied by an adult.


FACILITATOR TRAINING

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: QSE is in need of 'spectactors' to assist in facilitator training for the 2010 prison project - Arts in Community Enhancement (ACE).

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU: This is an excellent opportunity to gain further experience with the incredibly powerful Theatre of the Oppressed (TO) work, or as an introduction to satisfy your curiosity. Sessions will be lead by 3rd-time Lead Facilitator Rob Pensalfini, and other artist-facilitators from the 2010 QSE Ensemble.

WHAT'S INCLUDED: Forms may include Forum Theatre, Rainbow or Desire, Image Theatre and other Games for Actors and Non-actors. QSE's Shakespeare rehearsal methods may also be used.

WHAT'S REQUIRED: No acting, TO or Shakespeare experience is necessary. There is no other charge for participation besides QSE membership, and you are welcome to bring a friend. Volunteers will need to:
* book in advance
* be at least 18 years of age
* be or become a 2010 QSE member ($15 fee)
* commit to attending at least 2 of the 5 training days (M-F 9.30am-noon, 15-19 February)
* have transportation to the Ipswich campus of the University of Queensland

THE ACE PROJECT: The project will be held in a maximum-security prison from February-April, fusing TO games with Shakespeare rehearsal and performance. ACE is supported by Arts Queensland, the University of Queensland and the Department of Corrective Services.

LINKS TO VISIT:
* Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble's training page

* Theatre of the Oppressed international website

Dates: 15-19 February (Monday-Friday) 9:30am-noon

Location: Held on the beautiful Uni of Queensland campus in Ipswich.
>

PLEASE NOTE: Participants will not be required to do anything they don't wish to do. Volunteers will act as audience members and 'spectactors' only, and will not be expected to lead, or 'Joker,' the TO work at any time. The sessions will focus on training the facilitators; therefore participants with in-depth queries about TO methods may be referred to reference materials unless time allows and the question is relevant to facilitator training.

PUBLIC WORKSHOPS

QSE is also offering 3 free public sessions, each led by Rob Pensalfini and other ACE facilitators, as a way to engage the community with this incredible approach to performance and storytelling. No acting experience is necessary, and audience participation is absolutely voluntary.

Potential performance forms include Image Theatre, Forum Theatre, Rainbow of Desire, and other Games for Actors and Non-actors.

DATES - 2nd SUNDAYS:
February 14th 7-10pm
March 14th 7-10pm
April 11th 7-10pm

Location: Indooroopilly Library Meeting Room - come around the BACK entrance in the car park, near the book drop, around the corner from the cinema entrance.


MORE INFORMATION

The ACE project is led by Artistic Director of The Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble Rob Pensalfini, who pioneered the first ever prison project to combine TO and Shakespeare in 2006 (the program was successfully repeated in 2009 and has received Arts Queensland funding for 2010). Rob is a Senior Lecturer in Linguistics and Drama at the University of Queensland, a Designated Linklater voice teacher, and an experienced director and actor of Shakespeare. Rob has trained extensively with noted TO practitioner Brent Blair.

ACE was repeated in 2009 after the success of the 2006 pilot project; this year's program will take place in the same maximum-security facility - a men's correctional centre near Ipswich.

THEATRE OF THE OPPRESSED was established in the early 1970s by director/political activist Augusto Boal, for people engaged in the struggle for liberation - both against external/societal oppressors and inside their own minds. It seeks to be a "rehearsal for the revolution" for people who want to effect change in their own lives and communities.

Want to know more about applied theatre in Brisbane? Visit Brisbane's Applied Theatre Network

QSE's Mailing List

Anne Pensalfini

ACE PROJECT MANAGER
0433 648 100 / 3892 3850 / pensalfi@bigpond.net.au
The Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble / www.qldshakespeare.org