AUGUST 2026

Theatre of the Oppressed workshop with Julian Boal, NYC 2026

I recently attended an intensive workshop in Theatre of the Oppressed (TO) with Julian Boal, who flew in from Brazil. Theatre of the Oppressed is a form of theatre that uses audience interaction, role-playing and dialogue to explore social issues, test real-life solutions, and ‘rehearse’ for social change. It was developed by Brazilian director Augusto Boal in the 1960’s and 70’s and inspired by Paolo Freire’s work in education (Pedagogy of the Oppressed). TO has evolved over the decades and is a decentralized, grassroots methodology more than a unified confederation, but there are groups, companies and schools working with these techniques all over the world.

The workshop with Julian (Augusto's son) included artists, educators and activists from across the country; all of them creative, interesting people who want to facilitate positive change. A lively, talented group.

Augusto Boal giving a workshop at Riverside Church, NY, 2008

Over the past five years, I've been to several workshops at TONYC and also two longer trainings in Vancouver with David Diamond, who was a protege of Boal and founded Theatre for Living. This work has given me tools that enrich my teaching and directing. It has changed my perspective on leadership and group process and deepened me as a person. Gratitude.

In other news, it is the 80th anniversary of the U.S. State Department's Fulbright Program and I am happy to once again be the recipient of a Fulbright Scholar award. I will soon be travelling to Baku to work as a guest professor at Baku Eurasian University for the fall semester. I'll teach future English teachers and offer presentations and workshops in creative pedagogy, public speaking and leadership for faculty and students at various other institutions. It's an exciting return to Azerbaijan.