Borderlands: Boundaries & Intersections

Photos: Natasha Cohen-Carroll

A 2-Day Theatre of the Oppressed Workshop
with Paloma Irizarry & Hariprasad Kowtha

WHEN: Feb 4 & 5, 2017 • 10AM-4PM each day

WHERE: The Whole Shebang • 1813 S 11th St.

TUITION: $40-$120, sliding scale
LUNCH? Included!

PRE-REGISTER via "tophilly@gmail.com"

or call 267-282-1057
Click here to pay online.

Did you have a wall or a fence around your home when you were growing up? If so, who built it? Who or what was the fence meant to protect? Who did the fence keep out? How easy was it to get onto the other side of the fence? What obstacles did you face when trying to pass through?

Based on Gloria Anzaldzúa's seminal work, Borderland/La Frontera: The New Mestiza, Philadelphia Theatre of the Oppressed is exploring the borderlands between nation-states, the borderlands between languages, the borderlands between neighborhoods and the borderlands between work and home. Using the tools of Image Theatre: movement and stillness, acting and witnessing, observing and storytelling, participants will dive deeply into a study on personal boundaries and the intersections that lie in between.

Join T.O. Philly in a physical and interactive practice as we play games, practice exercises and create scenes designed to confront where each of us end—and where we begin.

Borderlands, Boundaries & Intersections runs a total of two weekend days from 10AM to 4PM, including an hour break for lunch. A small vegan and gluten free meal will be provided during the break. Dress comfortably for movement and warmth. . Bring a water bottle to stay hydrated. To pre-register, email "tophilly@gmail.com" or call 267-282-1057. Click her to pay online. All experiences welcome.

The Whole Shebang is located at 11th and Moore Streets. Enter through the parking lot and look for the door on the right.

Extras: Click here for articles, videos, and podcast pieces that we've been posting on the event's Facebook page, all related the idea of Borderlands.

RIFTS: A Workshop About What Divides Us & What Unites Us

Saturday December 10 
11am-4pm  (includes lunch break)
at the Children's Community School
1212 S. 47th Street, West Philadelphia
facilitated by Morgan Andrews
FREE—Contact “tophilly@gmail.com” 
or call 267·282·1057 to register

T.O. Philly presents RIFTS, a one-day workshop about social and political differences that cause schisms between people. Sometimes fueled by age, class, dis/ability, education, employment status, gender, nationality, political affiliation, race, religion, sexuality, or whatever is happening in the world, these rifts can manifest in ways that affect each of us deeply, both cerebrally and tangibly. Whether it's ongoing dynamics within a relationship, heated talk with family around the dinner table, or polarized viewpoints that divide a nation, the roots of these rifts have much in common. In this workshop we'll physicalize our experiences by using the language of theatre to dig up these roots in order to build the world we want.

In the morning session, we'll build our skills as a group by playing theatre games, getting to know each other, and opening up this topic of conversation. After lunch, we'll go deeper by unpacking specific stories, reconstructing them onstage, and then reconfiguring them into what we wish they could be. Our aim is to leave with some tools for tackling these issues in everyday life.

This workshop is FREE and runs from 11am till 4pm with a one-hour break for lunch around 12:30. No prior theatre experience is necessary, all life experiences welcome. To register, send an email to "tophilly@gmail.com" or leave a message at 267-282-1057.