Throughout the centuries, theater has shown its power to change public and community perception of social problems. According to the Brazilian radical activist, Augusto Boal, Theater of the Oppressed presented a radical opportunity for social change. It was certainly a "rehearsal of revolution" because it invited the audience to participate on stage in the theatrical action, to intervene and propose alternative solutions to oppression that could change the history of their lives. In this respect, the audience transformed into "spect-actors" rather than mere spectators.

In this session, the audience will become spect-actors and own their production of knowledge by engaging in the learning process. The session will sensitize the participants with key principles of participatory theater and its role in SBCC projects and interventions. Next, the session will focus on the work of Augusto Boal and engage in different games designed by Boal to understand the critical departure from monologue to dialogue. Once the audience has warmed up with facial, voice, and body exercises, the session will introduce Forum Theater by Augusto Boal as a powerful tool and process to critical awareness of problems and possible solutions. 

The purpose of this session is to decolonize the ways we practice SBCC by conforming ourselves to the stories we know or that have been told to us about others.