Exchange & Collaboration

The Power of Dialogue
The Power of Dialogue (POD) is a multiplication project of Participatory Drama and Theatre of the Oppressed.

The idea was conceived in 2004, as a result of an increasing number of requests from Eastern Europe for training and support. The first POD project started in 2005 in Moldova. Serbia and Croatia joined in 2006.
An entire POD project covers 4 elements:

1. Investigation into
   - Local application chances for Participatory Drama
   - Job perspectives of practitioners
   - Economic perspectives of local projects
2. Training of 20-30 potential practitioners by experts on the field of Participatory Drama.
   The trainins (2x5 days) include:
   - Basic techniques, exercises, games
   - Introduction of Image Theatre, Forum Theatre, Cop-in-the-Head, Invisible Theatre and Blagg!
   - Developing, making, directing and playing scenes
   - Joker techniques
   - One or more public performances
3. Practice stage between the trainings, during which the participants develop, lead and evaluate at least one activity independently
4. Production of a manual of Participatory Drama in the local language and based on local experiences

It is also possible to do a condensed version of POD, although stage 2 and 3 are obligatory. Every program holds the option of a follow-up stage with the following potential elements:
- Yearly training and supervision
- Support in creating and maintaining of a local contact point
- Support in conceiving and financing local projects
Formaat partly carrying out a local project

During the POD process, that takes roughly between 6 and 18 months, Formaat collaborates with experts from several countries. They may offer one ore more elements of the process.

POD projects can be requested by local organizations/NGO’s across the globe. The actual project starts at least 6, usually rather 12 months after the first contact.

During the POD project in Moldova, Croatia and Serbia that was concluded by the end of 2007, a total of 75 people participated, of which 56 completed both trainings.

Reverse Development Aid

In collaboration with the Dutch organization Emotive, Formaat invites colleagues from the global South to the Netherlands. The idea is that we can learn as much from the South as vice versa. Knowledge and experience from developing countries can also help us solve our problems; in that case, the North receives aid.

ITO

In 2004, we launched the www.theatreoftheoppressed.org website, which has become the most important website for Theatre of the Oppressed in the world. The website is set up as a meeting point for those interested and involved in Theatre of the Oppressed with a large directory of about 200 contacts in 55 countries, it publishes news and announcements, an online newsletter, has a digital library with documents, photo’s and videos and hopes to have a new interactive forum by 2008.

The website represents the world of the International Theatre of the Oppressed Organization, headed by Augusto Boal.