Theater for Social Change

🗣️Theater for Social Change Unit 13 – Career Paths in Applied Theater

Applied theater uses theatrical techniques to address social issues outside traditional settings. It engages participants in exploring real-world problems, empowering communities to share their stories and experiences. This approach emphasizes process over product, aiming for personal and social transformation. Career paths in applied theater include drama therapy, teaching artistry, community organizing, and corporate training. Practitioners need strong theater skills, cultural competence, and facilitation abilities. The field faces challenges like navigating power dynamics and securing funding, but continues to evolve with new technologies and applications.

What is Applied Theater?

  • Involves using theater techniques and practices outside of traditional theater settings to address social, educational, and community issues
  • Focuses on engaging participants and audiences in active exploration of real-world problems and potential solutions
  • Encompasses a wide range of practices, including drama therapy, theater in education, community-based theater, and theater for development
  • Aims to empower individuals and communities by giving them a voice and a platform to share their stories and experiences
  • Utilizes participatory and interactive approaches that blur the lines between performers and spectators
  • Emphasizes process over product, with the goal of fostering personal and social transformation rather than creating polished performances
  • Draws on a variety of theatrical forms and styles, such as improvisation, storytelling, role-play, and forum theater

Key Principles and Practices

  • Prioritizes community engagement and collaboration, working with participants to identify and address issues that matter to them
  • Employs a facilitator or joker who guides the process and encourages critical reflection and dialogue among participants
  • Uses theater games, exercises, and techniques to build trust, foster creativity, and explore complex issues in a safe and supportive environment
  • Incorporates elements of popular education, such as problem-posing and collective action, to promote critical consciousness and social change
  • Adapts to the needs and contexts of different communities and populations, from schools and prisons to refugee camps and rural villages
  • Emphasizes the importance of cultural sensitivity and respect for diverse perspectives and experiences
  • Seeks to create a space for marginalized voices and stories to be heard and validated
  • Encourages participants to take ownership of the creative process and to become agents of change in their own lives and communities

Career Opportunities in Applied Theater

  • Drama therapist working with individuals and groups to promote healing and personal growth
  • Teaching artist using theater techniques to enhance learning and engagement in schools and educational settings
  • Community organizer using theater as a tool for social activism and advocacy
  • Facilitator of corporate training programs incorporating role-play and improvisation to develop leadership and communication skills
  • Researcher studying the impact and effectiveness of applied theater interventions in various contexts
  • Consultant for non-profit organizations and government agencies seeking to use theater for social change
  • Playwright or director creating original works that address social issues and engage diverse communities
  • Program coordinator for youth theater programs aimed at promoting positive youth development and empowerment

Skills and Qualifications Needed

  • Strong foundation in theater arts, including acting, directing, playwriting, and improvisation
  • Knowledge of applied theater theories, practices, and methodologies
  • Excellent facilitation and group leadership skills, with the ability to create a safe and inclusive space for diverse participants
  • Cultural competence and sensitivity, with experience working with marginalized and underserved communities
  • Familiarity with social justice issues and a commitment to using theater as a tool for positive change
  • Adaptability and flexibility, with the ability to tailor approaches to different contexts and populations
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport and trust with participants
  • Creativity and innovation, with the ability to develop original and engaging theater-based interventions
  • Research and evaluation skills, with the ability to assess the impact and effectiveness of applied theater programs

Notable Practitioners and Organizations

  • Augusto Boal, Brazilian theater practitioner and founder of Theatre of the Oppressed
  • Judith Malina and Julian Beck, co-founders of The Living Theatre, an influential experimental theater company
  • Ping Chong, theater artist known for his interdisciplinary and community-based works
  • Jan Cohen-Cruz, scholar and practitioner of engaged performance and community-based theater
  • The International Theatre of the Oppressed Organization (ITO), a global network of practitioners and activists
  • The Center for Applied Theatre, a UK-based organization that promotes the use of theater for social change
  • The Theatre of the Oppressed Laboratory (TOPLAB), a New York City-based training center for Theatre of the Oppressed techniques
  • The Applied Theatre Center, a US-based organization that provides training and resources for applied theater practitioners

Challenges and Ethical Considerations

  • Navigating power dynamics and ensuring that participants have agency and ownership over the creative process
  • Balancing the need for structure and facilitation with the desire for participant-led exploration and discovery
  • Ensuring that the work is culturally sensitive and respectful of diverse perspectives and experiences
  • Addressing issues of representation and authenticity, particularly when working with marginalized communities
  • Managing expectations and setting realistic goals for the impact and outcomes of applied theater interventions
  • Dealing with the emotional and psychological risks associated with exploring sensitive or traumatic issues
  • Maintaining professional boundaries and ensuring the safety and well-being of participants
  • Securing funding and resources for applied theater projects, which often operate outside of traditional theater funding streams

Case Studies and Success Stories

  • The Medea Project, a San Francisco-based program that uses theater to empower incarcerated women and reduce recidivism rates
    • Participants create and perform original works based on their own experiences and stories
    • The program has been shown to reduce recidivism rates and improve mental health outcomes for participants
  • The Laramie Project, a play based on interviews with residents of Laramie, Wyoming, following the murder of Matthew Shepard
    • The play has been performed in communities across the US to promote dialogue and understanding around LGBTQ+ issues
    • It has been credited with helping to shift public opinion and advance LGBTQ+ rights
  • The Cornerstone Theater Company, a Los Angeles-based company that creates community-based productions in collaboration with diverse communities
    • Their productions have addressed issues such as immigration, gentrification, and racial justice
    • They have been recognized for their innovative approach to community engagement and social change
  • Increasing use of digital technologies and virtual platforms for applied theater interventions, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Growing interest in using applied theater techniques in healthcare settings, such as hospitals and clinics, to promote patient well-being and recovery
  • Expansion of applied theater practices into new contexts and populations, such as refugee and immigrant communities, veterans, and older adults
  • Increased emphasis on intersectionality and the ways in which multiple forms of oppression and marginalization intersect and impact individuals and communities
  • Greater collaboration and cross-pollination between applied theater and other fields, such as public health, social work, and community development
  • Continued evolution of applied theater theories and methodologies, drawing on new research and insights from related fields
  • Growing recognition of the value and impact of applied theater interventions, leading to increased funding and support for practitioners and organizations
  • Emergence of new training programs and professional development opportunities for applied theater practitioners, both within and outside of traditional academic settings


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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.