Augusto Boal’s methodology in education is based on the principles of Theater of the Oppressed, a form of theater developed by Boal in the 1970s. The overarching goal was to provide the people of Peru that was disempowered, analphabetic, and repressed with opportunities for expression, meaning-making, and socio-cognitive development through the practice of community theater. Boal’s method suggests a reconfiguration of the classic Aristotelian poetics, in which the spectators delegate in the actors the fulfilment of their need to translate wishes into acts. This is done from the perspective of an aesthetic point of view. Catharsis is an empathetic process that allows the citizen-spectator to release his or her need and, as a result, abdicate from the requirement to take action. Boal has taken Brecht’s purpose of transforming passive “viewers,” into “actors” who are actively capable of changing the course of events and expanded upon it with the goal of effecting a dramatic shift in the customary role attribution between actors and spectators.

This methodology is centered around the idea that theater can be used as a tool for social change and personal empowerment. The main goal of Boal’s methodology in education is to create a space where individuals can explore and express their emotions, thoughts, and ideas through the use of various theater techniques. This can include exercises such as role-playing, improvisation, and forum theater. By using these techniques, participants in Boal’s methodology in education can develop their critical thinking skills, improve their communication skills, and increase their self-awareness. Additionally, this approach is aimed at creating an inclusive and empowering learning environment for all students, regardless of their backgrounds or abilities. This course will provide an introduction to the philosophy and practices of Boal’s Methodology and help educators to develop the skills necessary to implement it in their own classrooms.