Legislative Theatre

theatrical form

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July 22, 2026

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Legislative Theatre is a form of interactive theatre developed by Augusto Boal. It is a branch of his broader "Theatre of the Oppressed" methodology, which aims to transform lives by having spectators become performers and act out solutions to social problems.1

In Legislative Theatre, which is similar to Forum Theatre, actors perform a scene depicting an oppressive situation or a problem related to policies and laws. The audience is then invited to suggest and enact solutions to the issues presented in the scene, with the direct goal of influencing real-world legislation. This form of theatre is intended to serve the functions of entertainment, education, and consciousness-raising.12

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Augusto Boal
…he developed what he called Legislative Theatre, which was similar to Forum Theatre but was directly focused on policies and laws that could solve problems. In addition to his work to promulgate the Theatre of the Oppressed, Boal taught theatre and directed conventional plays throughout his life. His autobiography, Hamlet…
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…he developed what he called Legislative Theatre, which was similar to Forum Theatre but was directly focused on policies and laws that could solve problems. In addition to his work to promulgate the Theatre of the Oppressed, Boal taught theatre and directed conventional plays throughout his life. His autobiography, Hamlet…
Read More