Participatory Theatre

This entry defines Participatory Theatre (PT), situating it amongst other practices belonging to the larger term Applied Theatre. Five different forms of PT are highlighted and described, with the intent to give the reader an idea of how they can be used in action research. Connections are made between action research as a methodology and PT as a practice, and how one can augment the other.

PT is a term given to theatre practice that generally plays an educational or interventionist role, that involves its audience in discussion and dialogue about the performed piece and in which the audience and the performers or presenters interact during and/or after the performance. Applied Theatre is the umbrella term for the great variety of theatre practices that are participatory and is an inclusive term to describe theatre presentations that fall outside the bounds of mainstream theatre performances. Applied Theatre is the practice of theatre that has been adapted, shaped, morphed and re-deployed by practitioners, educators and facilitators to bring about, for both participants and audiences, a heightened awareness of human and social issues through a focus on a particular topic. The goals of this form of theatre challenge societal norms and encourage reflection in order to bring greater understanding with a view to empowerment of its participants. Some important characteristics of Applied Theatre are that it can be practised outside of conventional theatre spaces, in classrooms, community halls, work spaces or village settings, or out on the streets; that the project may involve a performance or it may not; that it may include trained actors but often does not and that the spoken text generally emerges as a result of an improvisatory process rather than reliance on a script pre-written by a playwright.

Since the 1960s, more and more theorists of Applied Theatre have defined and made distinctions between its various practices. Now there are over 30 different titles for practices that fall under the umbrella term Applied Theatre. Theatre in education (TIE), drama in education, theatre for health education (THE), museum theatre, reminiscence theatre, popular theatre, community-based theatre, prison theatre, playback theatre, Theatre of the Oppressed and theatre for development (TfD) may be identified as the more prevalent and can be found in many parts of the world. At the heart of any of these practices is the element of participation, which brings together through collective creation individuals concerned or passionate about a particular topic.

The following five types of theatre are strongly associated with Participatory Theatre: (1) forum theatre, (2) playback theatre, (3) TIE, (4) popular theatre and (5) TfD.