Theatre for Change Galway draws profound inspiration from Augusto Boal, a Brazilian theatre director and visionary. Boal, born in Rio de Janeiro in 1931, pioneered the Theatre of the Oppressed (T.O.) – a revolutionary form of participatory theatre that seeks to promote social and political change.

Augusto Boal

Boal’s belief was that theatre should be a dialogue between audience and performer, a tool for empowerment and a means of effecting real change in the world. He envisioned spectators as “spect-actors,” actively shaping the performance and, by extension, their reality. His methods encourage participants to explore, analyse, and transform the world around them through theatre.

Augusto Boal’s legacy lives on through Theatre for Change Galway, as they continue to challenge, empower, and inspire individuals to use theatre as a catalyst for personal and societal transformation.

We have had a good fortune to have been trained by the international facilitators below

      Julian Boal with TforCG facilitators

Julian Boal has played a significant role in the ongoing evolution of the Theatre of the Oppressed (TO) methodology. He has dedicated himself to furthering the principles and applications of TO. He has travelled extensively, leading workshops and collaborating with diverse communities around the world to explore the transformative potential of community-based theatre. Through his work, Julian Boal has expanded the reach and impact of the Theatre of the Oppressed, adapting its practices to address a wide range of social, political, and economic issues. Under Julian Boal’s guidance, this dynamic and adaptable form of theatre continues to evolve, inspiring and mobilizing communities to pursue meaningful and lasting change.