Games for Actors and Non-ActorsThe Rainbow of Desire: The Boal Method of Theatre and TherapyLegislative Theatre - Using Performance to Make PoliticsShort descriptions of three books by Augusto Boal, one of the world's most influential drama theorists and practitioners. Founder of the international movement Theatre of the Oppressed, Boal was Vereador (MP) for Rio de Janeiro from 1993-1996, and was awarded the UNESCO Pablo Picasso Medal in 1994. All three texts are translated by Adrian Jackson, Artistic Director of Cardboard Citizens. [All three books together £54.90 inc P&P*] Games for Actors
and Non-Actors "To know and to transform - that is our goal." Drama games combined with instructive analysis of methods and dynamics. A practical exploration of The Theatre of the Oppressed, Boal details exercises which utilise and develop the intellect, emotion, creativity and all of the physical senses of those participating. It begins with the tale of the pre-human woman who discovered theatre, moves on through original and modified techniques, and ends - well actually it never ends because the objective is to set things in motion, to activate the spectator into the spect-actor. Whilst psychologically fascinating, this book is primarily about doing - learning about ourselves and our world, and then taking action to change and improve. "Theatre can help us build our future, rather than just waiting for it." This is a helpful handbook to a valuable philosophy. The Rainbow
of Desire: The Boal Method of Theatre and Therapy The next step on from Games for Actors and Non-Actors. Again, this is a book with which to interact, not solely to digest. The focus is on using acting methods to understand what we have internalised, and to effect the outing of our subconscious desires. We are encouraged to look at ourselves before looking at the world, and then to take that self-knowledge to join in with the world and ultimately change its direction. Boal divides the book into theory and practice, closely examining the aesthetic space of the theatre as well as the elements of the human being and the actor. Although it is about seeming abstracts of breaking patterns and awakening new thoughts, energies and actions, it is expressed in a very disciplined, readable and useful manner. Legislative Theatre
- Using Performance to Make Politics Boal's most recent publication is about utilising drama to promote and improve democracy within political systems. The emphasis is on the double meaning of acting - both performing and taking action. Boal refers to Hamlet's speech to the actors about theatre as a mirror - he wants to "break the conventions, to enter the mirror" and by rehearsing within in, emerge into reality with visions powerful enough to effect social change. Legislative Theatre is a world in which "the citizen makes the law through the legislator." In addition to the genesis, principles and operation of the project in Rio, the book also includes essays on culture, popular theatre and playwriting. Although five years in existence, Legislative Theatre is still a working experiment, not a finished piece - and much of the appeal is that in reading and participating in this book, we become involved in the experiment, an aspect of the process and progress of it. Boal emphasises this; he wants our collaboration, our "impressions, comments, suggestions, additions, propositions, desires", and he gives an address to send it all to. Can you - should you - resist?
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