What is Forum Theatre?
Have an experience rather than being instructed.
Forum Theatre is a high impact, interactive way to learn.
It involves two or more actors improvising a scene. Forums are developed after close liaison with the client and reflect the make-up not only of each organisation, but of specific departments or groups, and can be used as an effective tool for any behavioural development needs.
The characters within the scene will encounter problems which they are unable to solve alone. They won’t be communicating in a truly effective way. The participants are charged with untangling the problems and assisting the characters to reach a more desirable outcome than they would have alone.
Advice can only be given to one character within a forum and he or she will engage with the group and ask for help. This is because we can only ever change our own behaviour. If we want to change the behaviour of others, we can only do so by altering our own. The same applies with forum theatre.
The participants are asked to identify and change behaviours which have a negative impact on the characters. They may be advising on the actual words spoken, body language, tone of voice, the appropriateness of the message being delivered or on attitude.
The use of highly trained experienced professional actors ensures that what is seen is a reflection of reality.
Forum Theatre works so quickly and effectively as it encourages individuals to see issues from different points of view. It also enables real situations to be portrayed in a more light-hearted manner, enabling the audience to solve problems for the characters which they may find difficult to overcome themselves in a real life situation.
Its effectiveness is increased because it is always entertaining and often amusing.
As the group are not required to act at all the medium is at once highly participative and safe.
Experience Forum Theatre
