Books on T.O.
Boal, Augusto. Theatre of the Oppressed. New York: Urizen Books, 1979. (Republished by Routledge Press in New York/London in 1982.)
In this book Boal introduces his revolutionary Theatre of the Oppressed, originally published in 1979. Boal, a Brazilian artist and activist, has written a work that challenges the very premise of Western theater, starting with Aristotle and the first dramatists, and explores what social constructs lie behind the traditional theater form.
Boal, A. Games for Actors and Non-Actors. New York: Routledge Press, 1992, 2002.
“Games for Actors and Non-Actors” is a unique piece of writing. Boal’s Methods transform theatre into a democratic arena where the spectator becomes the spect”actor”‘, contributing ideas, taking over roles, and using theatre to confront problems such as sexual harrassment, poor pay, homophobia, and racism. For this first translation into English, Boal has included fresh material to make it the most up-to-date introduction to the techniques of Image Theatre and Forum Theatre available. “Games for Actors and Non-Actors” is a valuable handbook of methods, techniques, games, and exercises, and is a genuinely inspiring work by the world-famous author of “Theatre of the Oppressed.” It is designed to help anyone – whether actor on non-actor – rehearse for real life: make the fictional real.
Boal, A. The Rainbow of Desire. New York: Routledge Press, 1995.
“The Rainbow of Desire” is Augusto Boal’s bold and brilliant statement about the therapeutic ability of theatre to liberate individuals and change lives. Now translated into English and fully and comprehensively updated from the French, this books sets out the techniques which help us see’ for the first time the oppressions we have internalized.
Boal, a Brazilian theatre director, writer and politician, has been confronting oppression in various forms for over thirty years. His belief that theatre is a means to create the future rather than passively wait for it has inspired hundreds of groups from all over the world to use his techniques in a multitude of settings. This, his latest work, includes such exercises as: ” The cops in the Head and Their Anti-Bodies, The Screen-Image, The Image of the Future we are” “Afraid of” and “Image and Counter-Image.”
Boal, A. Legislative Theatre. New York: Routledge Press, 1998.
A further stage in the Boal project, this is an attempt to use theatre within a political system to create a truer form of democracy. This text includes a full description of the principles of “legislative theatre” and a description of the process in Rio.
Boal, A. Hamlet and the Baker’s Son: My Life in Theatre and Politics. New York: Routledge Press, 2001.
A study of the life of Augusto Boal, a man who brought together the worlds of politics and art in his work. He has devised a unique way of using the stage to empower the disempowered, and taken his methods from the favelas of Rio to the rehearsal studios of the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Schutzman, Mady and Cohen-Cruz, Jan (Editors). Playing Boal: Theatre, Therapy, Activism. New York: Routledge Press, 1994.
“Playing Boal” examines the techniques in application of Augusto Boal, creator of Theatre of the Oppressed, Brazilian theatre maker and political activist. This text is designed to illuminate and invigorate discussion about Boal’s work and the transformative potential of theatre.
Schutzman, Mady and Cohen-Cruz, Jan (Editors). A Boal Companion: Dialogues on Theatre and Cultural Politics. New York: Routledge Press, 2006.
Theatre for Community Conflict and Dialogue: The Hope Is Vital Training Manual by Michael Rohd
This book helps you provide opportunities for young people to open up and explore their feelings through theatre, offering a safe place for them to air their views with dignity, respect, and freedom.