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DISPLACED is a Theatre of the Oppressed festival that delves into the complex relationships between people and the land they call home. Through workshops, performances, and a trip to the Battle of the Boyne, this festival examines the theme of “displacement”—the experience of moving from, or being removed, from where one belongs. In exploring connections between Palestine, immigration and the housing crises, DISPLACED seeks to spark local action from a global awareness of displacement.
Workshops:
The festival offers a rich lineup of workshops designed to deepen participants' understanding of Theatre of the Oppressed techniques. Together, these sessions will provide an immersive experience into powerful methods for analysing and transforming societal issues through theatre.
Workshops include:
Newspaper theatre with Sabrina Speranza from Uruguay,
Legislative theatre with José Soeiro,
Forum theatre with Ana Ni Lochlainn and Janna Lindstrom from Galway.
Performances:
The festival will feature two forum theatre performances focusing on the housing crisis, presented by actors from Cork and Portugal,
Bassam, a compelling play on Palestine, performed by Fadl Mustapha.
Place-based exploration:
A unique highlight will be a group trip to the Battle of the Boyne site, inviting reflection on Ireland’s historical struggles and its complex relationship with land. This journey offers participants an opportunity to explore how these legacies resonate in Irish solidarity with Palestine and connect to today’s housing crisis.
By combining learning, reflection, and action, DISPLACED invites participants to move from passive observation to active engagement in writing a new narrative of belonging. This festival serves as a platform for dialogue, healing, humour, and empowerment, encouraging communities to unite and imagine new ways to reclaim home and belonging in the face of displacement.
Workshop Descriptions:
Newspaper Theatre with Sabrina Speranza
Discover the power of Newspaper Theatre with Sabrina Speranza from Uruguay. This hands-on workshop teaches participants to adapt news stories into dynamic performances, dissecting media bias and highlighting hidden voices. Engage in creating theatrical responses to current issues, transforming everyday news into a catalyst for dialogue and social change.
Legislative Theatre with José Soeiro
Join José Soeiro from Portugal for an immersive workshop in Legislative Theatre, a method for transforming societal issues into interactive performances that inspire political action. Participants will learn to stage real-life challenges, encouraging audiences to propose laws or policy changes. This workshop empowers communities to address pressing issues and enact change collectively.
Forum Theatre with Ana Ni Lochlainn and Janna Lindstrom
Engage in Forum Theatre with Ana Ni Lochlainn and Janna Lindstrom, creating scenes of oppression and conflict. Participants will learn the foundations of creating a forum theatre scene which can be used to foster creative problem-solving, empowering communities to confront real-life challenges with solidarity and resilience.
Bios
Sabrina Speranza:
Sabrina Speranza is an Uruguayan actress, educator, and social activist who has practiced Theatre of the Oppressed (TO) since 2005. She studied with Augusto Boal at the Centro do Teatro do Oprimido in Rio de Janeiro and has trained with Jana Sanskriti in India. Her experience includes TO work with children and teens in vulnerable settings, as well as facilitating TO training for educators. Sabrina focuses on Newspaper Theatre, and she has toured an original play for over five years in Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, Spain, and Portugal.
She has published in The Routledge Companion to Theatre of the Oppressed and presented at conferences worldwide. Her PhD research at the University of Birmingham explores adapting Newspaper Theatre for the digital era. Sabrina also teaches Drama History and Analysis and Theatre in Prisons at Uruguay’s Drama School of Montevideo.
José Soeiro:
José Soeiro is an activist, sociologist, and renowned Theatre of the Oppressed practitioner from Portugal. With expertise in Legislative Theatre, he has pioneered performances that bridge theatre and political action, empowering communities to propose and advocate for policy changes. Soeiro’s work integrates social justice with creative expression, inspiring audiences to engage directly in democratic processes. Passionate about community-led change, he has facilitated numerous workshops and collaborations across Europe, fostering dialogues on labor rights, social inequality, and human rights.
Anne Loftus:
Is a Reflective (Community) Education and Development Practitioner, activist and one the founders of Theatre for Change - Galway (TfCG). She has been facilitating workshops across a range of social justice issues for over 20 years. Anne targets issues such as inclusion, poverty, Trauma Informed Care and system change through her work with Educational and Community Development, EAPN, IDEC and she also lectures in the University of Galway on the BA Child, Youth, Family - Policy & Practice. Anne has been facilitating Theatre of the Oppressed training the trainer workshops and been part of TfCG’s Forum Theatre projects since 2014.
Janna Lindstrom:
Janna Lindstrom is a Swedish dramapedagogue, dramatherapist and actress, active in Galway, Ireland. She has facilitated Applied Drama and Theatre in Education since 2004 and is one of the founding members in Theatre for Change - Galway.
Janna has many years of experience within Youth Work and Educational settings, but is currently mainly working with intellectually disabled artists and actors. Her work concentrates on personal development, empowerment of the individual through creative processes. She has been facilitating Theatre of the Oppressed (TO) training and performances for and with professionals within Youth, Children, Social Work and Community Development through Theatre for Change Galway since 2015. She also lectures in University of Galway on the BA Child, Youth, Family - Policy and Practice.
Ticket information:
We have kept costs to as minimal as possible thanks to subsidisation from Irish Aid, Erasmus+, Afri and Meath partnership.
Tickets:
Standard - includes food, accommodation and conference fee
Discount - includes food, accommodation and discounted conference fee
Scholarship - includes food and accommodation, conference fee is covered
Standard ticket + food - includes food and conference fee
Discount + food - includes food and discounted conference fee
Meals included:
Breakfast on Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Lunch on Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Dinner on Friday and Saturday
Accommodation:
Accommodation will be in a hostel in Drogheda. Rooms will be shared. If you would like to book alternative accommodation, you can select a ticket with food only.
To apply for a discounted or scholarship fee, please email chriszine.backhouse@cit.ie explaining your reason for the request. Scholarships are limited and priority is for those who are volunteering at the festival.
Tickets also includes entrance to all performances, and transport to the Battle of the Boyne location
For further information; https://sites.google.com/view/displaced-tofestival/home
The deadline to apply, which is January 16th.
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