Designed for anyone (regardless of experience), our Grassroots Community Workshops
are theatre-based explorations with a specific population or group wishing to investigate their collective struggles as well as their hopes and dreams for the future.
Forum Theatre Workshop
This accessible and playful workshop is one way for people to be real with each other, rehearse actions for the future, and have fun together. (Recommend 3 hours to 6 days; 10-30 participants.)
Workshop tools include Theatre of the Oppressed with a focus on community building, story sharing, community healing, and problem solving towards effective action. It can include an interactive Forum Theatre performance for a larger community audience.
We believe that people have the wisdom to figure out what they need; our process recognizes this wisdom and provides opportunities to share stories and rehearse concrete actions and possible solutions for real challenges.
Mandala Center has worked with a range of communities:
Homeless youth
Transgender youth
First Nations tribes
Refugees
Residents of low-income neighborhoods
and many, many others…
For a more detailed list of partners and communities we have worked with over the last 20+ years see Clients.
Conflict Transformation through Rainbow of Desire
A Rainbow of Desire event can serve as a powerful aid in conflict resolution capable of bridging gaps in polarized groups as well as between individuals. (Recommend 3 hours; unlimited group.)
The Rainbow of Desire is a technique which deconstructs a story of tension between two people: employer/employee, co-workers, parent/child, lovers, etc. Using physical imagery and improvisation, the process very quickly goes beyond the individual story into an exploration of the group experience and the “rainbow” of who we are.
These events tend to bring much deeper awareness of what might be happening below the surface of a challenging situation, including historic/ancestral elements, as well as understanding and empathy for the “other.” Examples of previous events include: race, gender, hate speech, institutional oppression of students, Israel/Palestine, family dynamics, and more.
Legislative Theatre
Legislative Theatre engages community members alongside influential decision makers to create change on local, institutional, systemic levels. It is among the methodologies of Theatre of the Oppressed.
>> Watch a 5-min animation all about Legislative Theatre.
Each Legislative Theatre event has a basic structure:
WATCH a short play based on issues and struggles from the community.
ACT onstage to offer alternative solutions/actions to the problems presented.
PROPOSE ideas for new laws and policies around the issues at hand.
VOTE on the laws/policies you want to see passed.
Mandala Center for Change has successfully organized three Legislative Theatre events with notable outcomes for each. See highlights to the right. Contact Us to learn how we can support your community to experience this powerful form of civic engagement.
Scroll ↔ for highlights from previous
Mandala Center Legislative Theatre events.
