Building community, influencing policy, making change from the inside while we wait (possibly for a long time) for government to make positive changes. These are just some of the reasons behind Headlines Theatre’s after homelessness..., a theatrical event that employs forum theatre to engage the audience and cast members in a discussion about how we can work on real solutions to the problem of homelessness in our city, province, and country.
The result of a week-long workshop, the play is an artistic rendering of the real-life issues faced by people dealing with homelessness. 20 people from the community were selected from a much larger number of applicants, and the six cast members were drawn from this group of 20 to perform the play. Over the next 3 weeks, the director (David Diamond), the cast, and a team of designers molded the raw material from the workshops into a half-hour performance.
The performance
The actual performance is unlike any other theatrical experience I had ever been seen. I was used to sitting in a dark theatre and watching actors on the stage present a story. In most performances there is an invisible (and expected) barrier between the actors and the audience. after homelessness... is much different. David Diamond opened by speaking directly to the audience and framing the event, explaining the process and preparing us for a participatory experience. I was really impressed with how well he explained the reason for the performance and why he was using the theatre to open a dialogue about homelessness.
After Diamond’s introduction, the half-hour play was performed. It felt like we were watching real people facing real issues. In a conventional play, no matter how much I suspend my disbelief I know that I’m watching actors playing roles. Here, while I knew that these actors were playing fictional roles, the experiences were real and their performances were coming from a very real place. It wasn’t just acting, it was re-acting, and, quite possibly, re-living. Knowing the context of the source of the material made the play more visceral. Even if the acting wasn’t professional quality, the actors were completely believable.
After the half-hour-or-so performance, Diamond returned to the stage to facilitate the rest of the evening. With the house lights up and with no sound effects, the play was performed again, scene by scene. During moments of conflict or struggle any audience member could yell “stop!,” replace a cast member, and try to work through the scene towards a positive outcome. He handled the difficult process of drawing the audience into participating in the performance really well, prodding us until someone spoke up. The first participant was the hardest; after that people were more willing to get involved.
Theatre for Living
This kind of process is based on “forum theatre” which is a part of “Theatre of the Oppressed,” a method developed by Augusto Boal. Boal, a Brazilian, was interested in using theatre to transform our world into the world we want it to be. It’s really a method of creation in the real world, not just an artistic creation. Re-creation doesn’t rely on “magic” but rather on re-envisioning what is possible.
Diamond’s work with Headlines Theatre is based on Boal’s ideas, bringing participatory theatre and dialogue together to explore and potentially solve some really tough problems. One of their previous works was Meth, which explored drug addiction, methamphetamine addiction in particular. I recall hearing about the workshops leading up to that performance, but never made it out to see it.
Even more powerful than the initial performance of after homelessness... were the performances of the “spect-actors” who took on the re-imagining of roles. In most if not all cases they weren’t just playing the role, they were living their own story in the play, working through their own issues towards a positive solution. Even thinking back about it now makes me emotional.
With the performance pushing just over two hours with no intermission, it actually felt too short. Watching the audience members work through the scenes that focused on drug addiction, particularly crack addiction, I felt the powerlessness and fear, the feeling of being overwhelmed and incapable of handling life. I remembered my own experiences in that dark place. But, as I watched them speak to their struggle, as I watched them work through these issues, I could see how empowered they became. And I felt for them. I felt with them. This nearly made me start to cry: this play was a gift to people who needed a way to speak, because by speaking truthfully they can become strong and heal. I am immensely grateful to have experienced those moments.
The outcome
Three community dialogues were held to address different aspects of homelessness. One dealt with the location of housing, another with safe and appropriate housing, and the third with financing housing. The results of those dialogues, together with the ideas generated by the performances, will be compiled into a “Community Action Report” which the city and other organizations have agreed to use in determining their policies around homelessness and mental health.
It will be quite interesting to see what sort of effect this report has on future policy. It will also be interesting to see if this project has any effect on the issue from the inside — empowering people to build stronger communities and support networks, changing their own future while government slowly moves towards a solution.
Addiction, mental health, and homelessness affect us all. There are very few people in Vancouver who have not in some way experienced these issues very personally. We can help to end homelessness and create safe and appropriate housing as a basic human right. after homelessness... is a step towards a greater knowledge and understanding of the issues – and the use of participatory dialogue brings everyone into the story.
Remember, it’s not about you and me or them, it’s about us.
