books

Theatre of the Oppressed
This is Augusto Boal's most academically influential work in which the reader follows Boal’s detailed analysis of the Poetics of Aristotle and the early history of western theatre. Therefore oppressive states, such as the Brazilian government of the time, from Boal's perspective, use theatre to propagate their oppressive system.

Games For Actors and Non-Actors (second edition 2002)
This is probably Augusto Boal's most practically influential book in which he sets down a brief explanation of his theories, mostly through stories and examples of his work in Europe, and then explains every drama exercise that he has found useful in his practice. In many ways it is everything that 'Theatre of the Oppressed' is not: it contains little academic theory, instead relying upon practical example. Therefore drama practitioners have found this to be a particularly useful reference book whether or not they are practicing theatre that is related to Boal's academic or political ideas.



The Rainbow of Desire
Ast the Boal Method of Theatre and Therapy, this book re-evaluates the practices commonly associated with the Theatre of the Oppressed for a new purpose. It has been argued that Boal contradicts himself with this take on his work as it mostly concerns itself with creating harmony within society when his early work was concerned with rebellion and upheaval. However, Boal's works can be seen as a progression and exploration of a Left Wing world view rather than a unified theory.



Augusto Boal by Frances Babbage
This book is useful study of Augusto Boal that combines; a biographical and historical overview of Boal's career as playwright and director, in-depth analysis of Boal's classic text on radical theatre, Theatre of the Oppressed, exploration of training and production techniques and practical guidance to the Theatre of the Oppressed workshop methods.
Frances Babbage is Lecturer in Theatre Studies at Leeds University. She has taught and practised Boal's methods, in a range of context, and i s the editor of Working Without Boal: Digressions and Developments in the Theatre of the Oppressed (1995)