Drama Workbook: Exploring Power and Change (Before You Know the Style)
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Welcome
In this workshop series, you’ll play a series of drama games. At first, you won’t be told the name of the theatre style we’re working towards.
Your job is to:
Take part fully
Reflect honestly
Notice what each activity makes you feel about power, control, and change
At the end, you’ll discover how all of this connects to a world-famous form of theatre.
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Session 1 – Trust & Awareness
1. Name & Movement Circle
Task: Say your name with a bold gesture. The group repeats. Continue around the circle.
Reflection:
How did it feel to have the group copy you?
Did any gesture feel especially powerful or weak?
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2. Columbian Hypnosis
Task: In pairs: one leads with their hand, the other follows with their face. Swap. Then try leading and following at the same time.
Reflection:
How did it feel to be the leader?
How did it feel to be the follower?
What happened when you both led at once?
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Session 2 – Images of Power
3. Image Theatre – Static Sculptures
Task: In groups, create a frozen image with your bodies showing a theme (e.g., freedom, school, fear). The audience looks and interprets what it might mean.
Reflection:
What did the image seem to “say”?
Did different people see different meanings?
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4. Image Theatre – Transformation
Task: One at a time, audience members step in and change the image slightly (without words). Each change shifts the meaning.
Reflection:
How did small changes affect the overall picture?
What did you learn about how power can shift?
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Session 3 – Opinions Made Visible
5. Yes/No Lines
Task: The teacher makes a statement (e.g., “School uniforms are good”). Stand on a line from YES to NO to show your opinion. Move if your view changes.
Reflection:
Did you ever change your position? Why?
How did it feel to see where others stood?
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Session 4 – Rehearsing Change
6. Forum Theatre
Task: In groups, create a short scene where someone is treated unfairly (oppression). Perform it once.
On the second performance, the audience may shout STOP!, step into the role of the oppressed character, and try a new strategy.
Reflection:
What did it feel like to step into the scene?
Were all strategies successful? Why or why not?
How did the audience’s involvement change the story?
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7. The Joker (Optional Extension)
Task: One student becomes the joker (the facilitator). Their job is to invite interventions, keep the energy moving, and ask questions.
Reflection:
How is the joker different from a traditional director?
Did their questions change how you thought about the scene?
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Final Reflection – The Reveal
You’ve just explored:
Leading and following
Images of power and transformation
Making opinions visible
Scenes of oppression and intervention
All of these activities are part of Theatre of the Oppressed, a style created by Augusto Boal.
Last Questions:
Which activity felt the most powerful? Why?
Which activity made you think about real life outside the classroom?
How could these methods help people in society challenge unfairness?
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Extension
Performance Challenge: With your group, create a 3–5 minute Forum Theatre piece about a real issue in your community.
Journal Challenge: Write about a time you felt powerless — what strategies (real or imagined) might help shift that power?
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