Rehearsal for Revolution

By Jonathan Herbert

In life, there are no do-overs, but in the theatre, we can rehearse our future. Forum Theatre empowers spectators to become “spect-actors”—active participants rather than passive observers—and to embody knowledge through direct experience.

Facilitated by “the Joker,” a guide and provocateur who engages spectators’ participation, Forum Theatre uses the play as a springboard for civic dialogue. This interactive workshop begins with games and exercises to orient participants to Forum Theatre, build an ensemble, and liberate the imagination, and ends with devising an original Forum Theatre play.

Friday, July 31, 9:00am – 11:00am
Ardmore 4, Benton Convention Center (Benton South)

Jon Herbert is a Theatre artist and educator with 30+ years in the field. He began practicing Theatre of the Oppressed (TO) in 2008 after attending a workshop with TO founder Augusto Boal. Since then, he has worked with his students and community members to devise participatory performances for local organizations under the name Stop & Go Interactive, serving public schools, colleges and universities, churches, workforce centers, human resources associations, and LGBT centers. Jon believes that Theatre has the potential to transform society by disrupting oppressive narratives through story-making, dialogue and collective problem-solving.