Mandala Center for Change presents our 11th annual:
 

THEATRE OF THE OPPRESSED FACILITATOR TRAINING:
" WAGING PEACE - DESIGNING JUSTICE"

A 6-day intensive workshop w/ community performance for beginner as well as
more experienced T.O. practitioners seeking to deepen their work.
 

ABOUT THEATRE OF THE OPPRESSED:
As created by Brazilian visionary, Augusto Boal, Theatre of the Oppressed (T.O.) is a form of popular community based education which uses theater as a tool for social change. It's basic aim is to re-humanize humanity. Originally developed out of Boal’s work with peasant and worker populations, it is now used all over the world for social and political activism, conflict resolution, community building, therapy, and government legislation. Designed for non-actors, it uses the universal language of theatre as a springboard for people and whole communities to investigate their lives, identify their dreams, and reinvent their future. Not a soapbox, T.O. invites critical thinking and dialogue. It is about analyzing rather than giving answers. It is also about "acting" (taking action) rather than just talking. With T.O., people can and often do discover empowering solutions to their own struggles. And they have a good time doing it.

This is the listing for the 2009 training. For info on the 2010 training, go to Calendar of Events.

Facilitated by Marc Weinblatt

When: June 22– 27, 2009
(M-Th 9:30 AM - 6 PM; Fri 1-10 PM; Sat 10 AM - 4 PM)

Where: Port Townsend, WA
(see info below)

Cost: US$450
($$ arrangements available based on need; no one turned away. For financial aid policy, click here.)

Registration: Send $100 (per person) non-refundable deposit to:
Mandala Center
510 35th St.
Port Townsend, WA 98368
(PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE, & E-MAIL.)

Or pay in full with credit card via Paypal.
$100 is non-refundable.

For more info, contact:
(360) 344-3435 or info@mandalaforchange.com
 

ABOUT THE TRAINING:
Our 11th annual version of this intensive workshop is designed to train participants to use these tools with both adults and youth. Focus will be on community building games, Image Theatre, Forum Theatre, some Rainbow of Desire techniques and it will culminate in an interactive public Forum Theatre performance / community dialogue on Friday night. (For info on the public performance, click HERE.) Participants must commit to the full 6 days in their entirety.

In order to best understand the real life power of the work, subject matter will come directly from participants' personal and collective life experiences. Each day will include time to discuss the previous day’s work and the art of facilitation, as well as applications in the field. The week will also include training in basic "Systematic Oppression" theory (power-based analysis of the “isms”) to help illuminate an important layer of group dynamics. A simple manual will be provided.

These highly adaptable techniques can be immediately applied by teachers, social workers, psychotherapists, activists, community organizers, and theatre artists, etc. in their own contexts. Also for anyone interested in exploring themselves and the society in which we live. Absolutely no theatre background necessary!
  ABOUT THE LOCATION:
The entire training will take place at the Masonic Hall in Port Townsend, WA. PT is a small yet remarkably vibrant seaport on the Olympic Peninsula about 2 hours from Seattle. (Go to www.ptguide.com for lots of info.) During the summer, it is a major tourist destination hosting internationally renowned jazz and blues festivals among other events. It is also at the doorstep to the Olympic National Park and rainforest.
  
 

ABOUT TRANSPORTATION:
People flying in from out of state or abroad should fly into Sea-Tac airport by Sunday, June 21st. Car rentals, buses, or puddle jumper flights to PT int'l airport are available directly from Sea-Tac. Travel from Seattle and other locations are possible as well. Directions provided upon registration.

** We will also do one FREE door to door van pool from the Bainbridge Island side of the Seattle ferry about 5:00 PM on the 21st. We offer this as a courtesy to participants so please contact us no later June 1st if you want this free service.
If you plan to use our vanpool, you should plan your flight to arrive at Sea-Tac no later than 2:00 PM on the 21st so you have plenty of time to get from the airport to the ferry.
 

ABOUT HOUSING:
A variety of housing options are available including inexpensive hostel, Victorian bed & breakfasts, motels, etc. You will need to reserve early (especially for the hostel) as this is high tourist season.
** As we are committed to making this training accessible and affordable for all people, we will also provide FREE billeting (homestays) for those who are in genuine need of this. Please contact us for list of housing options and/or billeting needs.
 

ABOUT THE MANDALA CENTER:
Based in Port Townsend, WA, the Mandala Center is a multi-disciplinary education organization dedicated to community dialogue, social justice and personal transformation. Through experiential workshops, performances, and other creative events, the Mandala Center invites people to be more awake and alive as well as empowered to take action toward a more just and joyous life for all people. The Center is an active hub for the training and grassroots practice of Theatre of the Oppressed. It is also the parent organization for the Poetic Justice Theatre Ensemble, a multi-generational (16-79 years old) troupe of actor/activists using T.O. and Playback Theatre based interactive performances to generate dialogue around burning local issues.

  
  ABOUT THE FACILITATOR:
Mandala Center founder and director, Marc Weinblatt, has been a professional educator, activist, artist, and workshop facilitator since 1980. An internationally recognized leader in the use of T.O., he has worked extensively with both adults and youth and with diverse communities ranging from police to homeless youth, academics to refugees in Azerbaijan and, in November 2007, community workers in South Africa. Marc regularly facilitates T.O. based events in a wide variety of contexts locally and across the U.S. with a commitment to bringing a deep sense of spirit and humanity into social justice work.		  
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