Mixed Company Theatre: Joker's Symposium Proposal to PTO 2010 Steering Ctte

Our plans for the symposium are to create a tribute to the work of Augusto Boal and Paolo Freire by inviting five world renowned Jokers to create Forum theatre with five neighbourhoods in the GTA. The presentations will be in the local communities and we plan to perform them at downtown venues hopefully using the University of Toronto contacts. These presentations will celebrate and honour the two founders’ contribution.

During the preconference there will be a continuous collection of plays, presentations and workshops available to the public and conference attendees. We will be opening these slots to interested organizations and individuals who specialize in Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed. We will promote and market the various and diverse presentations from the community groups in the GTA raising awareness of the PTO conference. These performances will continue into the weekend, offering the conference attendees entertainment at night and a chance to see the work that Toronto is doing.

Community workshops will be led by the five world renowned Jokers and they will also offer workshops focused on their Joking and creation methodologies. This will create a spectrum of choice for attendees to learn from these practitioners.

During this time there will also be discussion panels that question aspects of Theatre of the Oppressed. Topics for these panels will cover a range of themes such as aesthetics, challenges to Joking, style developments, etc.

As a way to incorporate artists from in and around the city as well as bring awareness to the opening of the conference, we plan on orchestrating a public event in Dundas Square. This event will be a mix of music, dance, puppetry, theatre, visual arts and education. The goal is to “Take back the Square” and bring attention to the work of Augusto and Paolo.

We will offer a wide range of TO performances and skill workshops for the incoming conference attendees. We will be flexible and adaptable to the ideas that will come to us in the next few months and provide a space to showcase the various works that will be created for the conference.

Over the next couple of months we will solidify our budget and come to the PTO steering committee and board for start up funds. What we ask of the board is that you help to provide us with space to use during the preconference at OISE and any U of T theatre venues, and your contacts and connections in the city.

Mixed Company Theatre

157 Carlton St, Suite 201

Toronto, ON, CAN

M5A 2K3

416 515 8080

symposium@mixedcompanytheatre.com