“To be a citizen does not mean merely to live in society, but to transform it. If I transform the clay into a statue, I become a Sculptor; if I transform the stones into a house, I become an architect; if I transform our society into something better for us all, I become a citizen. Invisible Theatre is a direct intervention in society, on a precise theme of general interest, to provoke debate and to clarify the problem that must be solved. It shall never be violent since its aim is to reveal the violence that exists in society, and not to reproduce it. Invisible Theatre is a play (not a mere improvisation) that is played in a public space without informing anyone that it is a piece of theatre, previously rehearsed. Invisible Theatre is the penetration of fiction into reality and of reality into fiction, which helps us to see how much fiction exists in reality, and how much reality exists in fiction.” –Augusto Boal, Rio de Janeiro, 2004

Boal’s body of work continues to encourage me, as well as the staff of The Arts Politic, and citizens from many nations. I believe that Boal would want us to look towards the future and continue to create meaningful interventions. May we continue to probe our public spaces thoughtfully and to strive to make sense of our experiences.

[Editor’s Note: Augusto Boal’s Center of the Theatre of the Oppressed in Rio de Janeiro (CTO-Rio) is waging a war of survival. In a recent email exchange with Ronald Matthijssen, Project Development & Evaluation at Formaat, Workplace for Participatory Drama in Rotterdam, Holland (host of International Theatre of the Oppressed’s website), he wrote, “Augusto Boal's centre in Rio is in trouble because the Brazilian bureaucracy is trying to shut it down with absurd financial claims that have no substance.” The Arts Politic encourages you to learn more at: www.theatreoftheoppressed.org.] TAP

Quote from www.theatreoftheoppressed.org