How Does Forum (audience-interactive) Theatre Work?

Forum Theatre is practiced in various ways all over the world.  It is an integral part of Brazilian Director Augusto Boal's 'Theatre of the Oppressed'.

In Forum Theatre, the play builds to a crisis and stops.  It is shown once in its entirety, without interruption.  The play is then shown a second time.  In Headlines' 'Here and Now', audience members can yell STOP! if they recognize the struggle a character is having within the story, and they have an idea how to create safety or solve the problem in the world of the play.  The audience member comes out of their seat, up onto the stage, replaces that character and tries out their idea.  This is called an 'intervention'. 
     

How Does the Live, Interactive Webcast Work?

You can suggest an intervention in the play from a computer anywhere in the world and watch it happen, through an actor, live on stage in Canada! On December 11th, log in from this page.  You will be taken to another page with a chat and video window.  In the chat window, you will see WebActor 1, WebActor 2, and WebActor 3.  At 8pm Vancouver time, the performance will start in your video window.  To make an intervention in the play, click on one of the WebActors.  You will be taken into a private chat room where you will answer a few questions.

The WebActor will take the information you’ve provided and do the intervention on stage on your behalf.  And, you will be able to watch it happen LIVE!

What Are The Tools You’ll Need To Participate?

• a PC or Mac with a 56K, Cable, or DSL connection to the internet
• Windows MediaPlayer or Quicktime software SEE BELOW
• Java Installed SEE BELOW

Check your Video Player

Click on each of the links below to see if you have the necessary software installed to participate in the webcast.  

Windows MediaPlayer    OR     Quicktime

If you can see the video in either of the two windows after clicking on the above links, you have the right software to view the video stream.

If you can’t see the video in either of the two windows after clicking on the above links, you will need to download and install either Windows MediaPlayer or Quicktime software and try again.  Below are the links:

Microsoft Windows Operating System:

• Quicktime for Windows        
• Windows Media player 10 for a Microsoft Windows operating system (English)
• Windows Media player 10 for a Microsoft Windows operating system (French)

Mac OS X Operating System:

• Quicktime for MAC OS X
• Windows Media Player 9 for MAC OS X (English)
• Windows Media Player 9 for MAC OS X (French)

Check for Java Plugin

If the chat applet on the webcast page doesn't work for you, you may not have Java installed. If not, please visit the following sites to download Java:

• For Windows and Linux Users
• For Mac Users (OSX) | For Mac Users (OS 9 & earlier)

On December 11, 2005 at 8pm Vancouver Time (see time zone chart here) return here and login by clicking on the View Live Webcast button below.