Portuguese
Nessuno libera nessuno, non ci si libera da soli, ci si libera insieme in solidarietà
Nobody frees nobody, neither frees itself, we freed together, in solidarity
Paulo Freire
Tutti possono fare teatro… anche gli attori… Basta col teatro che non fa che interpretare il mondo, si tratta di cambiarlo/
Everyone can do theater… the actors… Enough with the theater, which only interpreted the world, is about to change it
Augusto Boal
The “Giolli Cooperativa Sociale” – Permanent Center for Research and Experimental Theater in Boal and Freire’s Methods – was founded in Parma on 11 November, 2008, but is based on previous experience of 19 years of the “Associação Giolli” (in English, Giolli Association). The Giolli uses the method of Augusto Boal (Theater of the Oppressed), along with the contributions of Paulo Freire, especially those related to awareness, their approach to community development, the active nonviolence, as tools to assist self- release of groups and individuals. Boal created a theatrical method in the 1960s, first in Brazil and after in Europe, disseminated today through the whole world, which uses the theater as a language, as means of knowledge and transformation of the inner reality, relational and social. It is a theater that makes active the public to explore, promulgate, analyze and tranform the reality that themselves live in. Its intentional is to develop a “human theatricality”, aiming to scrutinize and take in tranformation situations of anguish, discomfort, conflict, oppression etc.
From the influence of Freire’s thought, the Theater of the Oppressed takes the attitude, but not the maieutics: do not give anwsers, but makes questions and creates useful contexts to collective research of solutions. While it touchs personal and emotional aspects, Theater of the Oppressed doesn’t assume to itself the function of been a treatment, but a collective “freedom” tool based on the autonomous awareness of the people, in the “multiple mirror of the others view”. Today, Theater of the Oppresed is disseminate by the whole world, with a historic center in Rio de Janeiro (“Centro do Teatro do Oprimido”) and in Paris (“Centre du Théâtre de l’Oprime”), as well as various other groups and center that developed particular views of the method in several other countries.
Representatives from Giolli and Lutgardes Freire in PFI Brazil
The novelty is that is been planned an event to the year of 2012 very intriguing by the Giolli Cooperativa Social. Its deputy president, Roberto Mazzini, is articulating guests and infrastructure. From the begging it is intriguing by the composition itself: celebrate at the same time Paulo Freire and Augusto Boal, on day 02 May. Beyond the thoughts convergence, both intellectuals passed away on day 02 May, the first one in 1997 and the second 2009. Another unprecedented characteristic is that imagines to do of this event, an annual event, in which will be selected one word that is neuralgic key to both thinkers, considering the legacy of them. For the first year was choose the word “Oppression”. The suggest is that happens from 3 pm to 10 pm, in Monticelli, next to the Giolli’s theater, in the city of Montechiarugolo.
In the provisional programming proposed by Giolli, highlights: an introduction, opened by Roberto Mazzini and about the keyword “oppression”; after that a reading of some text on oppression in Freire and Boal (read by the colaborators Vanja and Max); then opens into the dialogue: Do you agree with this word? What does it mean to you? How do you use it in your practice? Does it still makes sense in the western countries? Why some people do not agree with this word or don’t like it? What and how should we update or deepen on this concept; following, pos-debate, a virtual session with Benito Fernandez (Bolivia), Jordi and Montse – Pa’tothom (Spain) and Julian Boal, son of Augusto Boal (Brazil). Keeping in mind that theses guests are still on period of confirming their attendance.
Next, the suggestion is that there is a debate between some guests: a representative of Paulo Freire’s Institute of Italy (such as, for example, Maria Paola Rottino), the sociologist Gino Mazzoli, the journalist Daniele Barbieri, the sociologist and coach Vincenza Pellegrino, a representative of Nondasola (a women’ association against violence), a representative of the “Comitato Acqua Ben e Comune” of Reggio Emilia (movement against the water privatization) and a representative of the “Libera Cittadinanza” of Parma (movement of active citizenship).
With the end of the debate, the group would start some reflections on the proposal for next year and would perform a closing with Vanja singing. There is an intention very strong in to do a streaming, an alive transmission of the event. It is with the same virtual nature that PFI Brazil will participate in the event. Professor Roberta Scatolini, educator at the Institute, recorded a testimonial, based on issues sent by the organizers of the event, which she talks about how Paulo Freire and Augusto Boal influenced her work and educative practice; about the meaning of word “oppression”, besides to discuss the oppression’s frame, today, in Brazil. To listen the testimonial, click on the “Play” button below:
Interview with the educator Roberta Scatolini, at IPF Brasil.
The contacts from Giolli, in case of anyone needs further information, are: segreteria@giollicoop.it; www.giollicoop.it and the facebook account is “Giolli Cooperativa Sociale”.