Theatre of the Oppressed
Outcast Theatre Collective's Theatre of the Oppressed Ensemble (TO Ensemble) creates custom online and face-to-face, interactive events designed to help communities identify their unique challenges and rehearse possible solutions. Our team will work with you to develop an event specific to your needs.
Our TO Ensemble collaborates with a wide variety of organizations including Arizona State University, University of Wisconsin, YWCA Metro Phoenix, and Planned Parenthood to help them and the communities they serve find a shared path to social justice.
Whether it's a private workshop or a public performance, the TO Ensemble can tailor your experience to meet your organization's specific needs.
For more information, check out our FAQ below or email us: info@outcasttheatre.org
Watch this space for
Upcoming Public Workshops
TOTO Frequently Asked Questions
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Who is Outcast Theatre Collective?
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Outcast Theatre Collective is a Tampa-based professional theatre company comprised of artists from historically marginalized communities. Committed to enhancing theatrical diversity, Outcast produces theatre designed to spotlight underrepresented stories and the equally marginalized talent that brings them to life. The collective is home to an innovative Theatre of the Oppressed ensemble that focuses on promoting social justice by de-mechanizing the body and de-colonizing the mind. Outcast Theatre Collective is a 501(c)3 non-profit.
What is Theatre of the Oppressed?
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Based on the work of Brazilian theatrical innovator, Augusto Boal, Theatre of the Oppressed (TO) is a body of techniques designed to help society rehearse for a reality free of oppression. Based in exercises designed to liberate body and mind, TO allows us to explore the ways in which we are conditioned to accept less than we deserve. TO asks us to transform from spectator to spect-actor, someone who doesn’t just watch oppression unfold, but observes and takes action to combat oppression. There are many techniques in the Theatre of the Oppressed arsenal designed to activate our impulses toward social justice including Image Theatre, Invisible Theatre, Newspaper Theatre, Rainbow of Desire, Legislative Theatre, and Forum Theatre.
What Theatre of the Oppressed techniques will Outcast be using?
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Our primary focus will be Forum Theatre which allows participants to embody strategies for confronting oppression in the moment that they are happening so that together we can find a path toward a more equitable world. You might also get a taste of Image Theatre which allows us to embody our responses to specific themes of oppression.
What will I be expected to do?
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You’ll be asked to participate in warm-up activities to get you ready to intervene in a scene of oppression. Then we’ll present a scene depicting a moment of oppression and ask you to help strategize ways to confront that oppression.
How does that work on Zoom?
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Most TO techniques are about de-mechanizing the body and as a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve had to make some adjustments. Fortunately, we’ve been able to find ways to engage both body and mind through the Zoom format. At the beginning of every session, and throughout, we walk you through how best to interact with Zoom in order to get the most out of each exercise.
It’s best if you have a device that allows you to have your arms free. If you’re joining from a mobile device, make sure you can set it down somewhere that allows you to see what’s happening and keeps you in frame.
Why are you recording/livestreaming?
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The original Forum scenes were performed in town squares and other public places. Since the goal of Theatre of the Oppressed is to bring oppression to light, we strive to make these techniques accessible to as many people as possible.
What happens to recordings and livestreams of these sessions?
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Outcast uses recordings for training and marketing purposes. They may be shared on social media and our website.
What if I don’t want to be recorded?
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Simply leave your camera off throughout the event. While we’d prefer that you play with us, we understand that there are some circumstances in which participants may prefer to remain unseen.
Where can I learn more about Theatre of the Oppressed?
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Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed has a website with great resources. Check it out at https://ptoweb.org.
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