Promoting Reflexivity through Drama. Educational Practices of the Theatre of the Oppressed

This article is about a still-in-progress research experience that explores the transformative potential of the methods of Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed. In this exploratory study, more than 60 students were involved in experential workshops with the Theatre of the Oppressed within the setting of university classroom. The aim was to adopt the methodologies and the techniques of Forum Theatre and of Journal Theatre as educational tools to promote reflexivity and transformation in undergraduate students. The results of the analysis of the study confirmed researchers’ hypothesis, showing empirically that the Theatre of the Oppressed could be an educational useful practice not only in informal educational contexts, but specially in formal university contexts.