Formaat, Workplace for Participatory Drama

Founded in 1999, Formaat started as Theatre of the Oppressed group doing Forum Theatre in schools. Soon we would extend our work beyond the field of education, and beyond Forum Theatre as the only available technique. In 2004, the extension "Workplace for Participatory Drama" was added. We decided to do that to emphasize two things. First, we want to be a place where working with the oppressed comes first. A place also where new techniques are developed and passed on. Second, we wanted to draw attention to the term “participatory”. Participation involves the voice of the participants. It is not the educational value of the drama techniques that stands out. Education is often coercive and based on monologues. Participatory Drama is democratic and based on dialogue.

In 2007, we opened the physical Workplace, a nice working space with a view on the Port of Rotterdam. The Workplace is the scene of regular international activities, so you will receive our invitations if you email us at info@formaat.org.

What We Do
Since our start, we have been developing our own style of participatory drama. Innovation was necessary to make Theatre of the Oppressed techniques more accessible to Dutch society (and vice versa, for that matter). Our Forum Theatre productions started introducing elements of youth culture, like video, music, rap, dance and even game show elements. New Joker tools like the Dilemma Discussion Method (based on the work of development psychologist Kohlberg) and Blagg (originally a prison theatre technique from the UK) were introduced.

Likewise, Legislative Theatre concepts were adapted to the Dutch context and we now use three different formats for community development work. Our projects have steadily grown in quality and since 2003 we received three awards, one for social inclusion, one for crime prevention and one for resettlement of homeless people. We work extensively (but not exclusively) in the densely populated West of the Netherlands, where conflict potential is high. The four pillars of our work are: Participation, Awareness, Empowerment and Dialogue. Additionally, we put a lot of effort in capacity building and multiplication of Theatre of the Oppressed. We train jokers, give courses and masterclasses and even set up scientific research projects into the effects of our work.

Internationally we are perhaps known as co-founders of ITO (International Theatre of the Oppressed Organization) and the website www.theatreoftheoppressed.org. Since 2004, we set up training programs in other countries.

Our Present Work
If you want to learn more about Formaat, check out the projects and activities in our four programs:
Participation & Awareness
Forum Theatre, Empowerment programs and Blagg workshops
Empowerment & Dialogue
Projects with homeless people, people with a psychiatric diagnose, empowerment of communities
Transfer & Development
National trainings, a Participatory Drama learning centre and the Laboratory
Exchange & Collaboration
The Power of Dialogue international training and the international exchange program