NOTE: “Today” and “tonight” refer to Friday, July 8.
PORT TOWNSEND — The Masonic Hall this evening will host “Waging Peace — Designing Justice” an interactive performance and community dialogue presented by the Mandala Center for Change.
The performance at 7 p.m. is free and open to the public, although donations will be accepted at the hall at 1338 Jefferson St.
Proceeds will benefit the Boiler Room — a nonprofit, social-service orientated all-ages creative space located at 711 Water St.
No advance reservations are necessary, however chairs are limited so early arrival is recommended.
This special performance features an international cast of nearly 40 people — from teens to elders — from across the United States and Canada and as far away as India, South Africa, New Zealand, Mexico and Haiti.
It is the culmination of a week-long intensive training in Theater of the Oppressed techniques — also known as Theatre of Liberation, Theatre for Living — and is created and performed by the participants including several members of the Mandala Center’s local Poetic Justice Theatre Ensemble.
As created by recent Nobel Peace prize nominee, Augusto Boal of Brazil, Theatre of the Oppressed is a form of popular community based education, which uses theater as a tool for transformation, according to a news release.
Originally developed out of Boal’s work with peasant and worker populations, it is now used all over the world for social and political activism, conflict resolution, community building, therapy and government legislation, a news release stated.
Under the guidance of facilitator Marc Weinblatt, the audience will choose from several pre-scripted short plays depicting social issues relevant to the community at large.
The selected plays will be performed a second time at which point the audience will be invited to stop the action and improvise their solutions to the problems at hand.
Themes from past year’s performances have included racism, sexism, homophobia, globalization, the education system, health care, disability, war and environmental issues.
This will be the 21st annual version of this international event.
This creative forum will not tell people what to think but instead will invite people to think, Weinblatt said in the news release.
“All opinions will be welcome and valued,” he said.
“Through the evocative and universal language of theatre, everyone is invited to share wisdom on the issues at hand. It can literally be a rehearsal for the future in which audience ‘spect-actors’ take action toward creating the kind of world they want. Come participate actively or simply sit back and witness the process.”
This unique approach to theater as community dialogue can be playful, intense, hilarious, deeply moving and enlightening, Weinblatt said.
“Audiences are frequently left with richer awareness as well as a greater belief in their ability to effect change in their own lives and the world around them,” he said.
“Although the themes tend to be sophisticated, children with an inclination to critical thinking are welcome and can get much out of this engaging theatrical experience.”
Based in Port Townsend, the Mandala Center is a multi-disciplinary education organization dedicated to community dialogue, social justice and societal transformation.
For more information, call 360-344-3435 or visit mandalaforchange.com.