Project Spect-Actor

A Theatre of the Oppressed movement for Malaysian youths

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PROJECT SPECT-ACTOR

Project Spect-Actor is a theatre of the Oppressed movement in Malaysia. It is named after the word coined by Augusto Boal in reference to an audience who are not silent spectators but actively participates in the show.

Focusing on youth-related issues, the team consists of campus students and industry practitioners.

Theatre of the Oppressed

"Theatre of the Oppresed" (forum theater) was founded by Brazillian thespian Augusto Boal in the 1970's. The art form encourages discourse, negotiation, problem solving and reconciliation through theatre. It calls its audiences "Spect-Actor" (individuals who watches and responds) in contrast to "spectator" and is executed by staging moments of oppression, be it personal or societal. The moment of theatre is an invitation for “Spect-actors” to actively participate and try to end the oppression by joining the scenario or by giving suggestions for the actors to perform.

The session is carried out with the help of a mediator called “The Joker”. However, never under any circumstances are the Spect-actors allowed to suggest violence as a solution.