Forum Theatre

Forum theatre is a technique originally conceived by Brazilian, Augusto Boal, with the aim of giving the oppressed the chance to be heard. At Dead Earnest, we have adapted the technique to fit in with a European mindset and the goals of the organisations we work with. The main focus is for the audience to actively participate in changing what they see on stage, and in real life, for the better.

 

“The performance and facilitated discussion were very well received on the day and we think it was a very effective way of setting the tone for the event and engaging people in the issues – the buzz during the first tea break immediately following the performance was striking. I think that the performance piece and facilitated discussion contributed to the high levels of satisfaction with the event.”

Suzanne Wood, General Medical Council

 

We create bespoke performances for our clients, focussing on the issues pertinent to them; be it training in appraisal, enhancing customer service, creating a comfortable environment for voice to be heard or challenging difficult behaviour in the workplace. We research, write and perform quality pieces of theatre for you and your audience.

 

'I had been very impressed by Dead Earnest and by the power of forum theatre in encouraging forthright discussion and in influencing opinion… The play was a very true reflection of the brief'

James Munroe, Patient Opinion

 

The first time we perform, we invite everyone in attendence to watch and enjoy, the second time is where the real interaction begins. We encourage the audience to get involved, to call out when they think something can be done differently. Naturally, people can be cautious at first, so we use a facilitator to get the audience going. It doesn't take long before everyone is having their say. It's the facilitator's job to get people talking, keep on topic and be progressive - making sure that the audience get the most from their time.

 

The aim of forum theatre is not to instruct or dictate to the audience, it is to empower them, to prompt interaction and to come to positive conclusions. It is a different way of thinking about training and communication; a way we feel is more effective and more fun.

 

I’ve seen loads of videos on this sort of thing before and I guess you can always pause a video but what really helped was the chance to interact. It was great to hear other people talk about the issues and get lots of different perspectives.” Delegate