TO Community Supports ETP: A Political Hurricane

Dear Theatre of the Oppressed Community:

Another hurricane is coming: this time, it's a political hurricane.

Our joker colleagues at Escola de Teatro Popular (ETP) in Brazil need our support at this crucial moment: they're taking activist theatre to the streets to help defeat Bolsonaro and show local and world leaders that the people's movements will win.

We step up when our comrades are affected by a crisis, and right now it's a crisis not only for Brazilians but for all of us. The election is coming up in October, after four years of Bolsonaro's extremely harmful and frightening reign. His actions, and those of his cronies, not only have cost lives throughout Brazil, but they do threaten the Amazon - which threatens the whole planet. There are rumors of a coup if Bolsonaro doesn't win, as we've seen already in the US. It isn't pretty.

ETP is planning a campaign, from August through October, mobilizing their 100+ members as activist leaders, who will initiate theatrical actions in the streets with their neighbors around the state of Rio de Janeiro. They've been training activists in popular theatre for several years and are ready to move, with their 8 groups already prepared with street performances in various neighborhoods.

The aim is to reclaim the power of the street and grow a movement that will be ready to resist a possible coup. Raising $10,000 before the election will enable ETP to pay for critical costs for this mobilization, including props, transport and food for activist leaders. All contributions will be received by the Boal Institute and will go directly to support Escola de Teatro Popular's campaign to defeat Bolsonaro.

Theatre of the Oppressed is not an end in itself; it’s a step on a long road to emancipation.

About Escola de Teatro Popular:

Since 2017, our goal has been to spread Theatre of the Oppressed throughout Brazil, putting the system onstage and trying to find perspectives on how to change it. Escola de Teatro Popular has members from social movements, universities, occupations, and demonstrations, as well as invited artists who believe in the school's program and who bring perspectives about expanding our work, politically and theatrically.

Organized by the Boal Institute, Escola de Teatro Popular, and Katy Rubin