Arts Inside with Simon Malbogat

This workshop will provide an introduction to Theatre of the Oppressed. This style of theatre has its roots in Paulo Freire’s critical pedagogy. Augusto Boal was the founder of Theatre of the Oppressed and developed it to empower workers and community members to fight back against oppressions they were facing. There are multiple branches of theatre involved in Theatre of the Oppressed such as Legislative theatre, Newspaper theatre, and Invisible theatre. The branch that we will be talking about the most in the workshop is Forum Theatre. Forum Theatre originated in the early 1970s, with the original intention of helping spectators realize their “internal oppressions” and begin to overcome them. Learn key concepts in forum theatre such as the anti-model, the joker/facilitator, and the spect-actor.  

Simon Malbogat has been a key player in Canada’s popular theatre scene for over 30 years. He has studied with the greatest contemporary popular theatre practitioners (Augusto Boal, Jerzy Grotowski, Eugenio Barba, Yoshi Oida) and adapted Forum Theatre to the modern, Canadian audience and artist developing an innovative theatre and teaching approach. 

As MCT’s Artistic Director, Simon has worked extensively in engaging communities including street-involved newcomers, youth, children, seniors, educators, parents, mental health professionals and artists through Forum Theatre and the interactive arts approach. His vision has been to create positive social change through communityengaged theatre across a wide range of social themes including mental health, education, HIV awareness, intergenerational relationships, cross cultural understanding, racism and privilege, and elder abuse. Simon’s recent successful community-engaged productions have been Spring Moon (2017), The Golden (C)age (2017), Photographic Evidence (2018), Breaking the Cycle (2018), In Your Head (2019), Consent Matters (Virtual Forum Theatre in 2020), Two-Sided Mirror (VFT 2022) and I Carry with Me (VFT 2022) and the upcoming Harvest Justice: Twice the Speed of Lightning (2025). 

Simon has provided workshop creation, direction and facilitation for young people ages 14 to 18, resulting in over 40 theatre forum plays. Other youth group projects have involved the Community Initiative Project, Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club, the East End Community Health Centre, the Sears Drama Festival for Youth, the Social Planning Council of Peel and the Toronto West End Community. International workshops for youth have taken him to the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Ukraine on three separate occasions. 

Simon has directed and acted in over 50 new Canadian works, many of which many are now seen as important benchmarks in the development of Canadian theatre. He has played key roles in numerous plays by the Chalmer’s award winner Rex Deverell; David Fennario’s On The Job, Nothing to Lose, Banana Boots which won the Montreal Gazette’s Best New Play and Joe Beef which won the Pauline Julienne Award; George Walker’s Criminals in Love; and Michael Glassbourg’s Bad Apples. 

Teaching credits include The University of Toronto, York University, Humber College, Queen’s and Brock University. In 1997 Simon created The Ripple Effect: 8th International Festival of the Theatre of the Oppressed which presented 450 artists from over 22 countries. He also produced The Open Stage Toronto Theatre Festival, The Canadian Popular Theatre Alliance Festival and From the Ground Up: The National Festival of Canadian Theatre. 

Arts Inside is a monthly performing arts workshop series for adults and youth 16+ led by arts professionals working in all art forms. With a focus on creation, connection and community, this is your chance to bring out your inner artist! Whether you are int​erested in exploring acting, poetry, singing, creative writing, digital storytelling or dancing, each month will provide a new and exciting option! No previous experience is necessary — just an open-mind and the willingness to try something new in a safe space. Meet new people and learn from a new artist each month

We are committed to offering an accessible and comfortable experience for all. Here are some accessibility features of this program:

• Free to participate
• Wheelchair accessible venue
• ASL interpreters and support persons are welcome
• We celebrate neurodiversity and active listeners
• Snacks and refreshments provided

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