wt The MIT Press Invisible Theatre: Liege, Belgium, 1978 ‘Author (9 Augusto Boal and Susana Cpstein Source: TOR (1986-), Vol, 94, No. 3 (Autumn, 1990), pp. 24-34 Published by: The MIT Press SS able URL: hp: jr agit 146065 Accessed: 217 O4/ 2018 11:01 ‘Your we of th ISTOR archive nctes your secetaceof he Terms & Condon of Ue. avalabe at nip joronppaplinflaboapaieennsiey ISTOR ica nat-foe pot service hat lp scholars, rssh, andes dove, we, and ld upon a Wide range of “ona intra igi achive. Wee formation enolegy ad ols to ineease reduc and clit new forms ‘of sholaship, For moe lnfenaton about JSTOR, pease contact suppor so on, ‘he Mit Presi collaborating with ISTOR to dg, reserve and extend aes o TDR (1988)Invisible Theatre Liege, Belgium, 1978 ‘Augusto Boal start Wee ‘What happened at Liege ton inerting expen fee me, Thee swore so nny subjeas wo dice and deat probes fo del with 90 ‘any people to ik oan o many aneyped event took place that we ‘ded up bing mach more sate what hee aout, tans, {i Gnction ed danger began ding “neal these Argentina n 297 And ti oy, ‘seco many yee apd he contin ve bee fave neve at Fated in sud 2c exprince athe one Liege Hg in October ‘ons il wares be begins ‘Anne Martynow nd Bromo Ducoilevitd mee do one of my "bese ‘ofthe oppestel™ workshop fz bn Bree and th Liege The Ste shou oparigpue, men ed women ranging in apes om 1 40 ‘yar, om Belg, Morocco, Tui, aly Face an ht cot {rice What we ually doin thse woraops forthe ew hee dye in Iomte group exerts, gues and dso shou he deren fms oF the "bear of the oppressed” On the fourth day, fe wot do ini ible thea plese pub places, soc ar retrain, mapermathe, tins sed see, depending Upon the chose jes aly the wor ‘hop Bae wih «publ prtumaece cae "ete Toran” which Inder petorprtcpsion "We sent he Bat the days Mra, then we went 10 Liege aed repre ony ope vise these pevermance Theos pee ia she flowing way bout «Jon atts go oa sopemakt sed stuart buying ‘ie tema Nine oer ars gt ne eighibonng fc wa to got he cheater, Te Dew itn 9 (oh Feard action: Fanci gs to the eh repiter. Before te eae vars ‘heckng the pes out, Facois whens he tht he needs everyting he's {got in Bs car but that he don ave enough money gay fr. He {lsorthat ei wnemployed nd hat eas spent evel oe ying 6 fet ob, base there a pprosimatly colxo unemployed pope ‘eign ii vr ies w find one. The easier sy that Be story ‘one of er boner nd that er job to care forthe mean ha feo buy, Fancol ats re wou ke py. He at sal Ae cout Rave wed vo el what hes goin Wis ea ut he wool ater my "He come) Yo us yo do hae the any." "Lat So snyder yt tan vert nfs perme etn br ort poy ft he tng Simple: py wih work ted oman "The eat, Heoming angry, expan tht she cannot exchange gods for labon, Sh an ely scp tn eda wy of tung snd payee, 4h action: Paricption of the other aor, ich of ha it hee his fol One smong dem, Ane ese Paco of being» bam "Thnk ely rn te ae ay i one the whe dat want ok teat a Wat's your ot" “work a home My hand the manager of coor, ree -Anaher sco onaancs hate i employed toot hath adie ancl? courage to slit hat he ba no mane. Hess the Belg “conomic yer forthe santa, Obwouly hot i ae ines ey ‘ze ting to work bu can't probe Another soll Franco ry ‘nd ied ajo nance ty. Att po, bianon abst heifer ‘dgan “nana” and she core onan pretleme ‘ae lee (Qtany dunes have moved to dhe cheaper northern put of Belg, Uwingng wealth othe Flemish elon whl impoverting ee cues Frotehspesting "Walloon." "The ahi hretene call he manager. Another ator ata rat colt bight size he dosnt wat ose, be only wet odo the sine thing everybody ce does bo neve "Ye ina, you do? Yuck chee “eps thecad ofthe we, ofer hoi were fr 40045 ow ot pa ‘Then, wih he ane mony ode your ou shaping ome prr [Fs pee Him be wath a tng bth the yoo. “The eae des not know ws to do sod be cle nag By ow all the stoners ate talking aboot unemployment. ees and ‘nk, post relations, ase ding, they ae hey then Jokers who "warm the pubic by bringing up new aber of cue Son so posing gunn ofr the ete, ‘shaction: Arvalotthe manager who inthe men based clot face The manager tae connes Pena te ree En. Fea tei cominues tobe ener polite, never asin bis oie whe yg {Sound sincere snd peut ince he cee vlble papa ‘Theater cntomers ae thar Fanci be slowed tees ins (One ofthe acon sees calletng money to vive Fant problen but acknowledges that tis ota good way tose the probleme co,o0 unemployed Beans They do very el andi ey se = ce Ibi Thee 25About Boal rin pli hate a past Sse we te psig sever ey owe he ws iy wo tidy choy st ‘Vaksicy sd worked ns wml eae Sree ss groupofpay igh. The Gers a ores the own yoo Boal Retiring co Bran 1946 Boa tow woe A coctovral pays. His profatons at Aten inde ‘Hen (i936), Zam (4h Tae (ot), Tae Mente he Su Pads Pair Opnion (8) ed od sl colo mocacyby wing dein, nd pil cto,” Boat. fe sutorisne were ao ses. Ie be Aco hte wa hed by huge and Boal wa ed sd rtrd. Afr see sont he Zev leu ef fr Aetna whee be tye unl 19 Tm Argentina Hoa dle he oun on Best Torna (971) aod Unde Song Mute (157) He wi io Working ia many fats Of {Ein Ameria, bogining to develop what werctobemethe mets a 1. Aug Bos wking wher he di nthe Rien Of ew Ings rps nieve 96) he prbecion of gee sea nets Ems ik memb ftea. (Phas oy of ey, Bea) cs thy gather sound BF 0, whichis lose to FE 150, Fanos pays his TS br hr supe, the supermarke’ anager and sone scanty {sare op him om len. Tey eves Bodh with 4 wha lin ‘Sopplse Cats "They wane he pl ome bore Prac sve the tore nels amps leone eine bt e's pot ‘tke ator nln hoe wh, scoring tothe si, so upped issn Paes ok coe dene hla yan overhnig on- (eh action: he poe arive. Making we of he proverbial pliers, they push tod those people who bec ther, mal those wh ae che owes flow thereon al oven ettage bls Fae Frasca ide. The plc fiers cnnorbelewe wha tey "The oc’ bn cnge sos the mange, Yr he a af oo a" sverybody ys no a lla Bes ener The manager, eng a fre by tence, nats tt Fanos be tke ote pole won "ie, how doy wate 9 his mon he eh es ying sud oho the ral hrs rely ae eh var? They althe tee ofthe opened, etnies ‘Rely invobe pects ins ate coning Diversion forthe scolion” Br he folticl cnaton fo Arpria grew wore ‘Rt in apr Bol et flr Pog wre be ‘reed pay and eight he Reso Cane SSraoy of Tovar, Is 197 the Pope ovement tured tothe Hight an ea 90 (oor comforbl,He seeped a of ffm ie Serboone to ach in Pa. iPr 19-79 Boal tn + Bvesonth Sevkhop dnl ayn 00 Fron cnc onl vcd group of 20 to all crs Arte ead of ee ten day wat ‘raed conti the work nde te ner fhe" Thea dT Opie Rage Boa" From tye tthe pron the ee hy, {She hob of Boats sn “Eup, afer change a govern war eve back to Beal devo gu donee sh poor Epa hanged the progres ‘ang worse Tea Rook be op arth igh) (Ph Furopes Lan Aca, Nj Ares ed ice Group ing htt of Aa Bo) sons rope se Ato ZS, mw sung ene of he opens lee ith lenérned amped ewope Ges Aijcs. Rio de onro= RJ Br Tel c-s-s-264t09 Jot Cohen Cree “Rehed Shc ‘yng ht ot ny atk nh be a 0 ad ‘ig The manages, however, ix nbbom iors “Tah on aed fr having al a pol abe Her atgament tn she nota fncting oer ore has Best ‘by ths cident ace che ar tne ad enoncy ding he arn, {ete Inde egolng reve any enomere fom coming Ek "The poles ofan charge hat few eles. Fancy bk othe police sation to vey ht enya sneer he scraton. My Feople yt top the pie ea, msec. Ante companies Fane Fost te poe snton Gea she ss he wont wt be er ut w A ’ ths ging, Fmt ll you someting important. Annie Dede, ve from Flemish TV, od asked ofl aes bre lec fo a 0" #2 xg! ah ) fries ei he ene By aa ine! ET Pedues Wonca tds micopnse ee ee BE 8 wn nen Tecicas bad iSlen hin quips snag te at he war cei ia is28 Aap Bot ‘hoping cre The cemrsopcrator al iden the camer sid patie ‘hg mich ad 3 aol le the orcs of ee es. Bong very exper= ‘ned, he had no duty Big everyting with his eames unde eae dsmps longshot. aisle everything! Ate was ty side Ait the eerson who ws ating eveything down in wing. Be {drwy ere wars propel spectator the ee eet, 40 fd playwright Frando Pesto, who had ast ated fom Cogn ‘Germany, where at then working i io. “The fat that levison was dacumeniig Wis ever Ade new dimer Tea fig ettlerhon noe decrnentog iso ae new Sree, Fiat pee: ane Ec cd te pc on ned na gig Bg eh oe ay Ee TERE Silom te syced remy Doe fy, pls de Bails dooweing Ra “Sopa econ Bad eb deeds lr oy a ineat ca by sre! te wat Sortie bane Sa OST hg cold neve wc ews ening He Teg tbe SSF srt yore ig ae? You ho ve tbs yee ors peta Yorn fe ‘lone noma he pple ep ion plo fei yn ai i i [Reve een fn of lle Sian “am, rp on peste fm tee Tropa ed for wt hott. Afr thy mere ected, aie snd Franco rrredt the there whese we wer wing for hem. We ‘wee all acl very worse by now, Epc me, becuse any probe Jems wid he pole mediately remind me of he barn of Cat ‘Asien pokes ‘Once hey were bic, they toi us what happened an we dics dhe gpa of het we fd Just been trough ‘We dead pri tng viable ati, doy very tel fart nds to con tive as such, the nvble thea bas (0 be a candi hate. IC cms “vile” the spectator tater psi ele ate an bes such more redtv oe are protagonist ofthe event. fast he ive heat ena be abet tthe sane vl which i come Sonal het. Te demand thornton nen oping seh serch, Since chet wo coorship i Belg, sods pent Weald be fo of ‘we ate ei wo acus he plc of barssnen. “The station wis ready compiated cxogh Now & wat Becoming bron mes Bute Surday we deed ort whe geting Yry thafcl ae tee eg nes ‘According to Bean hee‘uke they ey ong to eth rybody. Terefor,cxh Bonny nell avis Soph ne one dena Bet ‘EGaT Sin ie sur tepeton ae, ab, sess woud ned ie ee egal Ca an sete orsoon be fing gal French mxptateLoo Jost Te ee of tig recente wander cane tn exncly the oposite Ident rests thea, lodges shoud bey iad reprodue ke But when ah i eetes her/his ool work another ste mast make te er resting iret equal ceive pee of work, whichis tol ier "Tce gars informsto rom he pat and erodes the pet ne Theat gather iran inte preset snd erent the are (Cos sade proneute a9 ast ine he een sel to proseete ‘rian? Ca epee mi? Moteover, con tela ub de boa be fo sal don't Know the answers, yose muy qustiaes. But would sicerety He to san open debate on this pasion aes, Tn cour if pose "Anray.on Saterday we este On Sanday we prepared forth theatre form not forthe Unexpeced-ro we ids mrp Bont 1 wconinue my try. We wees bpp lathe omg the Pench selling tein had anoanced os petermanc nx supportive one “Thetis war ll There were ny Frlgnee. Mast of them bod hr paper inorder, bot thre weve also many Ao al Latin American [oll ones whore papers were ao inode. ‘Our group hed prepared tne these orm senso ick, wet oy, snd women’ iberton, remember hat wae nding lking {2 mann, Rani Tustns wha Ind aay worted wh te ao Spel heats port on he Pat sabway the peeve yen. Bp ‘Eom the roup Cre Divers, joined oo eonveriaton. She had aed ‘hens workshop I ad conducted ia Tay and wanted met work eth ie group, We see all deve cay tis Seach mpeded bea ME faa Beal? va" ria “TesPowed me his ID. twas a bie shocked Hees would Save never veh th te Bln fob col cone lit Tae hin wh eves, an ny hin fra tation adm eo pasport (Portugese and Beslan), aSorbomne, ey Birth eta, and even my orange eed at pice hd ne cep any of chem. They ist "You ive Pio te pie ial” ued in albu Ras seted me he rs del at Lat lag semved Fle wen uf Evet pay waning dp Ing ahs te de ao tantng TSS panos poke ots, Baibed me he Holl ped sx oreven peopl, phe me neo 2 ‘oom marked "Private" in Bagi, be police cms private pes Wehout sutra, As Ral nd he ebs wore pig me hab ‘oa they were ako pushing he tee paiemen ot af he deze evi Tasos 3950 Ange Boat ing tt be wo is Sree dtl ad we “dtd what odo. One ofthe groups, who fad Bped era ‘oskhop ni cg of rotering ema tery el [ote This group tock fe though otis and rooms to a pa ‘at (pate property whee the obe cul ot come). Once we wee ‘hee, my finds pot on the phowe and informed the med the le hoe apd even yer Shut the eden “The lier arived and comsidted my predicament Iwas i Belgium, ‘ealy Consequently, te pce ebavor was comply abusive Twas eided tht we tou pots. The lawyer cle the polit. The fer ‘oho actwered hi cll ws peplene. "he have ot kr he ane of anyne 1 mat hae Ben he ‘dr “Th lye led the genet "Nee a he name ha 1h our ders are andy. It rt have ber te ‘onion frie: "in fit, we looked trough the window sad sw three car from de Ue Tha y fo at hny eae ton of stg ivr. Tits he oly te. Bat Tp we hare at ly anyon. We mere conn how come lh cl rf repren—the {ob th gener ul hating brigade ened ey pai Toe owt neha roma wo pes oe dre ‘ener nein a aad in sont dy Sg i never opel bree procedure. Al, ony ne of them wae ins pope aforn. At we mere thinking about dea something else apne suspicions plc ogee ‘sly ened imate pope ested, the one they roaghe with them seemed oe seed of ur, Conc: wasnt ple dog Send ‘rhson: the police aes wee fcitous, Titdeoaclsn (whic Ter provedto be won) wat cvdely ght proup who wanted pt ‘We decided tht Hse war oly ove salto ihe pic ad na ken ‘parti thne vet, what weno do wast cal hep! in fact given {hat the fice were not eporable fr what ad pened, we waned them oe respnie for what coal have happeosd, The lawyer he ‘wold eed al three poke weit na ethan en ite, the both wns verowing with lore ‘Mesa, thee Wit ges STemaEP nie see, Pegi wee casing, proposing slung terpetations. wae eal Ser dhem tobe nero Big ae pray the mest netvo oall She ‘Wisse nervous ha Raul wae wmnewba concerned saat er od sted to sk ber guetons, Beal, Bete confeed that tear mn the ‘Garg Divers fad deigd 1 Sue pie. A pieepic A espana the dog blog othe group, Thre Brigit’ story. Moreover, one of te tad videstape the et. wae ny tocapln ha tothe sabes Bot, bie tg Spa ae ile amc he ssa Ces Bre: We ok theo itn foom, Te pic war indeed oats ‘whch wns very onderetedane, Thi send been going fon hoe So shale lt During thine, frig ad eges who ‘tere present id bexn pt throogh el. And al for wht? “Ths athe Ges min ewes we Obed fom he Cegue Diver. a when we questioned de ed tt pope Tne” “ive ote epee sie there digs” waned densa hate ct acorn Parvin flees, at le cdo esr nay gen cent” “Tey so sed fo Tao tie he Fat pic 1 ges onthe then, Aferwats, ee Cape nance us for bang wed ach ptr In isopiion, at Amine on ou pr “Ih ntlicnena, Rear apst hr i ibe tei arene Coa ct ph a interes explation of the expe coe th Cirque Dives ators waned to i th thee af he pred, ‘whch stall tested the ie, The ee adn aa Sea copes yo ae sd fag {rah Moreover xi sid of showng iets The ral att int sl of recog tata peopl eatin Thi oc at tap wore peopl fom evoing themes to a as» "pofssonalibeagh pret ‘owl tat exeryboy stn ate ocaton. Harespnta gent deal of oy ie eching a applying thee es. The Ccingae Divers sos hud spy used them spat me to pee the tele. ‘Another member of che group added» sapplementcy hypcheis jeslouy nar the gue Divers had lo tied ne orn weap Set had refred ad sereped oct conduct «workshop mith thor sab Whe hd the Cirque Divers poople do ben? They Become ‘veg siars by desuoyng the hae forum penance hat we ha Prepared They took over om vent. sechniqus apna mes they preven!» ge aden ow ge e- tied wih ater thet of the opened ted “These were some fou group seas concn, Arte xk At she Cuque Divers headquarters onthe nigh everyting took le, how: ‘ter, se waned to be ery les sos our tnd and oii Toth rt place wt die ocean Belize vile Thnwe 3Anu Bea ape ay lage!” rnd aed tod he athe le ne ad {hat Kind of atement tar 13 sod the peo who bd 3 ‘Adskesezee bing seh sical age he tect wes ude ‘hen, bt tefl ais coud come up with ach ie to me s fete stde, conscious or wot "Ht de nt tt efi eco do ing We wan een "Tat beh of taketh Hey of abusing an mndience wih the excuse tat ‘sf the scond subject, ik ts eesary co ‘pore technique docs mot exit the ne ee oe To pur two fue rears ofthe sot spel aise carved fine, angles, nan tion (ance) wl the pall Slog ciate brwerauremployret and te ‘bmi chemseees GF nobody accepted be enough job fo everybody). 1 vate the lw een 0 qu the which sa wey ieee tater aogier Ewe waned wo bek he le, weal ave best very cy for uy plan x cee tat wold have dace peopl the test oything we wanted, Que kl. chs Stich why many sores sd 3 "sbi" pre: sof tir gods to cover th eee. ve waned to estion the egitnayoftelawe. Bec ve by annbody em make my own avs woo. Laws ae oly I bawever by thas who Bave the power co make ic, Eveycatrsip seg to legal the gst hat Broaght ther to Therefre, saw promulgated by the liary tt no wad. No sr ofth oppresed eng the dierccsbtwesn te concept aly and legitimacy. De oppeeion sit ply. Ia many coutrine wamtn eamot wat seen ny cote, they oe ph other plc they do mo five acs to ctan poston In mis ese, omen ae all bet | ‘ale suhorey eter opely ar sely paycologicly oe soc And ‘ery sting doe i the name othe law However, ataw which ‘posed oa blo hank cana ees igs oc a have the consenis of ts tins hat, woes‘Theseme way oe cn question laws ad estos hat opps woe, ove cn date oppcive asso carom roar of ie Uns: works, peas, immigrants, Hacks ee Tanto ci ones and fr al that he theatre of the oppressed techniques are meant 9 help the oppreed; they ee actualy thee weapons of liberation. (oath nen i any ory. "hn actor dested in» pocm’suifem! One eat wt aways pps in eter ere that on thes ander? One cn ao agers the pert Tint ctw abe it wad ale 6 mak ep Iino o Nt hs st en Bieter fete tie A yong ownin pep dere oe Het in of pc ing Fan pa ent peta by may 1 oe Rr ny ek Ci ag ope hr hve ny a FR wan tome be fregner and in thls country and ‘edo ony rte 8 cy thee inti” Ag recorder The canal passerby oa Dearth recording, Some of hem oem topped tite “Tam anemploye” 1am anempoe.” Were sa ire [aesly Beata) st is mines reorder, rv, Our Brain had ood jb, was ward the J eraer be wes ipenonang. Conegrly, 3 wat “Thy th wn tthe aon sc we wot eiag any of che sours hte wae decerhing Ba a ac tha ore rote! i oe tes that be isla tempted dye was cri re other emigre ew monte ear bad neal ile Nn although the Bazan actor's toy wast rt roe wa ath, [Although ra not + synehronte rth, wae sls rath ae ‘het onan gue gm Iovate Tare 314 An Bot facts dlachronicteuth This was ot hopping hee sd now, batt war happening ehewhere at diferent tine fe bad net eds Lege, inspite of ang ben ced by the sere eter te ras ad pet ad we oe oye ther. ewat ot oe hat thio wate brace br [rhe hey bos Gased Ra he plone dec pb, pe are fre ces of une Fae Conezien, everything wat Bar =the avis mcg” at Lege were vty imporaat. They toed on the eis a ete of peice that ha en very nee forall of us doing the sppor We hed the opporanity 20 rec pn feria epec a as prs thnks to th Lie cea and ee rer ons contre cas hat we weg tat me Weve Sng what weed to do. Ararat, by abicing oor bog “xceponl” ard helping the ‘poretd spectator fie theres fom let theft oppress ‘Sat of tong aperatore. By beoming potgonis, thy wl Se quad tose the thea ofthe oppresed oat in defo ake what shoal bea ewe of iteration Treated fo the Foch by Sana Btn vii ued i te Balin dene de opp, te. ,8 st at gen