Theatre of the Oppressed Reading Group

The Book: Theatre of the Oppressed by Augusto Boal
• Part 1: “Aristotle's Coercive System of Tragedy”

Monday, March 21st, 7:30 p.m.

• Part 2: “Machiavelli's Poetics of Virtú”

Monday, March 28th, 7:30 p.m.

• Part 3: “Hegel and Brecht: The Character as Subject or as Object?"

Monday, April 11th, 7:30 p.m.

at the A-Space 4722 Baltimore Ave. West Philadelphia

In 1974, while in exile from his native Brazil, Augusto Boal published his most influential work, Theatre of the Oppressed. The book details the history of Western drama—from the ancient Greek tragedy to the modern Brazilian soap opera—as a means of placating the common people and upholding the dominance of a privileged few. Boal then posits alternative modes of theatre to reverse the paradigm, giving voice to spectators and transforming them into "spect-actors". As a book, Theatre of the Oppressed has since seen print in over 25 languages. As a practice, Theatre of the Oppressed is used by millions of people in more than 70 countries.

Come to the A-Space for discussions on each part of Boal’s work. The group will provide a comfortable space to pick through the book and we'll help each other develop an understanding of Boal's work, technique, and legacy.

Copies of the Theatre of the Oppressed can be pre-ordered in Philadelphia from Wooden Shoe Books (704 South Street, 215-413-0999) or from Bindlestiff Books (4530 Baltimore Ave, 215-222-2432). For more information, email “tophilly@gmail.com”.