Forum Theatre

Forum Theatre

Forum Theatre is a participatory drama technique developed by Augusto Boal. It involves audience members intervening in a scene to explore alternative actions and outcomes, fostering critical reflection and collaborative problem-solving. 

Alternative/linked methods: Image Theatre, Invisible Theatre, Rainbow of Desire, Legislative Theatre, Forum Theatre for Bystanders 

Why?

• Encourages critical reflection and ethical reasoning 
• Promotes student agency and empathy 
• Supports inclusive and anti-oppressive pedagogy 
• Bridges theory and practice 

How?

• Devise a short scenario depicting a conflict 
• Invite audience to intervene and suggest alternatives 
• Replay the scene with interventions 
• Facilitate discussion and reflection 
• Use structured debrief to consolidate learning 

When?

• Healthcare and social work education 
• Teacher education 
• Law, criminology, and public policy 
• Business and leadership 
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion training 

Get Started

• Choose a realistic scenario relevant to your discipline 
• Use Boal’s warm-up games to build trust 
• Brief participants on roles and objectives 
• Encourage student-generated scenarios 
• Use Plus-Delta or reflective journaling for post-session analysis 

Digital Enhancement

• Use Teams with breakout rooms 
• Record scenes for asynchronous interventions 
• Use interactive tools like Padlet or Miro
• Integrate with VR, The Cave or other immersive platforms 
• Encourage reflective blogging or vlogging 

Resources

• Chernikova, O. et al. (2020) “Simulation-Based Learning in Higher Education: A Meta-Analysis,” Review of Educational Research, 90(4), pp. 499–541. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654320933544.
• Michael, J. (2006) ‘Where’s the evidence that active learning works?’, Advances in Physiology Education, 30(4), pp. 159-167.
• Middlewick, Y., Kettle, T. J. and Wilson, J. J. (2012) ‘Curtains up! Using forum theatre to rehearse the art of communication in healthcare education’, Nurse Education in Practice, 12(3), pp. 139-142.
• Mitchell, A. (2025) “Using Forum Theatre in nursing simulations,” British Journal of Nursing, 34(4), pp. 248–249. Available at: https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2024.0305.
• Kina, J. and Fernandes, S. (2017) ‘Radical Pioneers: Augusto Boal and the Theatre of the Oppressed’, Radical Pioneers.