Turning
People's Stories into Theater
 As the central component
of the School for Social Work’s
summer symposium on antiracism, True Story Theater will visit
Smith on Monday, July 16, to transform people’s stories
into symbolic live theater.
True Story Theater is
performance ensemble based in Arlington, Mass., that uses
people’s personal narratives to spontaneously
create theater pieces that promote understanding and social
healing. The troupe of 16 performers includes actors, counselors
and educators, activists, health care professionals, musicians
and artists.
The company’s performance
will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. in Sweeney Concert Hall,
Sage. Small-group discussions will follow from 9 to 10
p.m. in the Campus Center Carroll Room. The event is open
to the School for Social Work community.
True Story Theater bases its performances on the tradition
of Playback Theatre, an improvisational model used around
the world to reach disenfranchised people and to build understanding
where conflict had driven people apart. The theater model
is influenced by storytelling, traditional community rituals
and the psychodrama of J.L. Moreno.
Like Playback Theatre, True Story Theater emphasizes the
importance of hearing all stories, however ordinary, extraordinary,
difficult or joyful.
In addition to the True
Story Theater performance, the school’s
antiracism symposium includes ongoing presentations, workshops
and meetings throughout the summer.
|
