An uneven Play: Theatre in Intercultural Education

Author(s):

Ozge Tomruk(presenting / submitting)

Conference:

ECER 2011

Network:

20. Research in Innovative Intercultural Learning Environments

Format:

Research Workshop

Session Information

20 SES 12 A, An Uneven Play: Theatre in Intercultural Education

Research Workshop

Time:

2011-09-16

08:30-10:00

Room:

KL 32/123,G, 115

Chair:

Ozge Tomruk

Contribution

The proposal to organize a research workshop is based on two improvisational theatre methods, Action Theater™ and Forum Theater and their relationship to perception, awareness and change as endorsement for intercultural education; as a training for life. Forum Theatre of Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed and Action Theater™ as a physical theatre method, developed by the US American performance artist Ruth Zaporah, provide two methods of practicing and improvising life in a theatrical context.

Action Theater™ is an improvisational physical theater training and performance method for experienced dancers, actors, and performers created by Ruth Zaporah. It has been developed since the sixties by Ruth Zaporah, a dance based performance artist. But the training will benefit all human beings apart from all performers and writers: actors, dancers, musicians, playwrights and directors.

In this method movement, sound and language are considered equally as expression elements so that in an intercultural context the lack of language skills is not a barrier for communication. Especially in Europe where “United in diversity” is the motto of the EU.

Forum Theatre of Augusto Boal is based on political theatre methods of Theatre of the Oppressed and is a “collective rehearsal for reality“. The spect-actors are invited to replace the oppressed person, and act out all possible actions.

These two methods seem to be far away from each other but one important aspect brings them together: Training for life in an intercultural environment than “[…] improvisation sharpens our capacity to deal with a changing world“.

The research is based on the practice as research method of performance studies. The pluridisciplinary section brings postcolonial theory (Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak), philosophy (Wolfgang Welsch – Aesthesis), neurology (Antonio R. Damasio - Consciousness), spiritual guiding of Buddhist nun Pema Chödron and popular science of Michael Mary together.

Method

Practice as research method "A growing number of performing arts / media departments in higher education are now offering higher degrees which place practice at the heart of their research programmes. This represents a major theoretical and methodological shift in the performance disciplines — traditional approaches to the study of these arts are complemented and extended by research pursued through the practice of them." Practice as Research in Performance, on www.bristol.ac.uk/parip/index.htm

Expected Outcomes

Can the application of improvisational theatre methods in intercultural education be an appeal as a cultural political prospect?

References

Bamford, Anne: The Wow Factor: Global research compendium on the impact of the arts in education Nachmanovitch, Stephen: Free play: improvisation in art and life Damasio, Antonio R. : The Feeling of What Happens: Body and Emotion in the Making of Consciousness Martin, John: Intercultural performance handbook Spivak, Gayatri Chakravorty: Can the Subaltern Speak

Author Information

Ozge Tomruk (presenting / submitting)

Ozge Tomruk

Berlin

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