|
The present paper presents an experimental programme for preventing bullying among students, by applying the Forum Theatre method in four schools from Cluj-Napoca. The Forum Theatre is an instrument that was created in order to prevent the social problems that imply oppression, the programme’s strong point being its interactive nature, through the spectators’ active participation in the onstage actions and through the constant collaboration between actors and spectators, all with the purpose of creating a scenario that is acceptable for those in the audience, one that respects everyone’s dignity. The programme presented in the present paper creates a scenario meant to put a stop to bullying in schools. The activity had taken place under the auspices of the Association of Women Against Violence – ARTEMIS, in collaboration with the Faculty of Sociology and Social Work from the Babes-Bolyai University, as part of the ROMEDIN project, coordinated by the Desire Foundation. Between March and April 2015, 8 Forum Theatre shows had been set on stage and 224 students participated, between the ages of 12 and 15, as well as 24 teachers. The study was designed as a action-research and the immediate, short term results were analysed based on the participants’ reactions during or after the shows. The medium term results were assessed using interviews with teachers (individually) and with students (in groups) in every school. The Forum Theatre proved to have been a method that captures the attention of students, motivates them and mobilises them towards change. But, as an isolated event, it is insufficient in inspiring long term behavioural change, in the context of the spread of violence in the school institutional culture.
Keywords: forum theatre, interactive theatre, empathy, empowerment
|
|