FFORWM

Spent all day preparing to lead the 'experimental drama' group (who take the name of the title) that I've been a part of since October... I tried to integrate elements of the challenging sixties improvisational theatre movement that had been brushed over in a politics lecture and thoroughly enjoyed the research process (mainly because it's so interesting).

The group traditionally use the teachings of Alberto Boal, who developed a dramatic technique called 'theatre of the oppressed'. He was Brazillian and worked with peasants and other groups of people who lacked representation in society or were 'oppressed'. Generally sessions revolve around games which help everyone to feel closer, breaking down the boundaries society has instilled in us and our confidence in our ourselves and as a group builds up. So he would build up the confidence of the oppressed and gradually get them to enact scenarios where they might have one of them pretending to be a landowner and they would 'practice' asking for a payrise or a less expensive rent, just to get used to the idea... there are other purposes, methods and intentions but that's it sketched out.

I often go to Fforwm feeling down or tired and get really energised by it, it's a really important creative outlet for me. I'm just off to have a wank over how great and totally unpretentious I sound noww....