Our methods
Theatre forum
During a theatre forum, the audience is invited to play an active part in finding solutions to the situations presented on stage.
First, the actors perform scenes illustrating problematic behaviours. Next, participants are invited to join the actors on stage to experiment with different ways of responding to the situations presented, thereby becoming ‘spect-actors’. This collective exploration allows participants to test ideas, reflect on their choices, and develop practical strategies for addressing similar situations in real life.
What happens during a theatre forum at Specta(c)tor?
- Group warm-up with the audience – Simple, effective exercises to foster a spirit of mutual support, spark the imagination and get the body moving.
- Scene description – A short scenario, lasting between 1 and 10 minutes, based on in-depth research, in which all the characters make poor decisions leading to a negative outcome.
- Re-enacting to find solutions – The scene is re-enacted, and participants have the opportunity to take to the stage, step into a character’s shoes or appear as themselves, and suggest alternative ways of acting. Participation is always voluntary and never compulsory. The Specta(c)tor team then improvises based on these suggestions, drawing on their preparation and research relating to the subject.
- Reflection with the audience – This debriefing phase, which may be more or less formal depending on the context, provides an opportunity to explore together how to put the proposals discussed into practice, at both an individual and a systemic level.
Workshops
Specta(c)tor also offers series of three workshops. This format allows trust to be built up gradually, enables more in-depth discussions, and allows participants to draw on their own real-life experiences. The workshops provide spaces where everyone can share their experiences, reflect collectively and explore different ways of responding to the situations they encounter.
How does a series of workshops work?
- Workshop 1 – Gathering testimonies: Through exercises, discussions and tools inspired by the Theatre of the Oppressed and cultural mediation, participants are invited to share situations they have experienced or observed. This initial phase helps to establish a climate of trust, bring the group’s experiences to the fore and gather the material that will be used to create the scenes.
- Workshop 2 – Forum in progress: The troupe presents these scenes to the same group. The situations are then explored collectively, either to refine them or to test different reactions and explore possible courses of action.
- Workshop 3 – Debrief & outlook: This final session provides an opportunity to reflect on the process, put feelings into words and take a step back from the situations explored. The discussions help participants to identify what they have learnt, bring new insights to light and open up new perspectives for the future.
A safe space for dialogue
Specta(c)tor’s interventions aim to create spaces where participants can share their experiences, be heard and reflect collectively on situations that affect them. By experimenting with different ways of acting, the group develops courses of action tailored to its reality.
The approach adopted is that of facilitators and mediators. The aim is not to provide pre-determined answers or to determine what is right or wrong, but to support participants as they explore the issues at hand. Through this approach to cultural mediation, the links between actions, their consequences and their context are highlighted in order to draw out reflections and tools generated by the group itself.
Some of the situations explored may provoke strong emotions. The ‘joker’ and the whole team ensure that a space is provided for listening, respect and dialogue, where everyone can participate at their own pace. The warm-up exercises, the framework for participation and the facilitation tools help to gradually build a climate of trust, foster collective engagement and minimise situations where participants feel stuck or withdraw.