Arts Informed Policy
Development:
A transdisciplinary approach to systemic change.
The Folkestone Performing Arts Company's newest programme, Art Informed Policy Development, is centred on the belief that the theatre can be a powerful tool in supporting behaviour change, systemic change and / or policy development. This can be demonstrated by interactive ‘Forum Theatre’ and ‘Legislative Theatre’ processes:
In Forum Theatre, a theatre piece is created by and for the community that faces the difficulties presented in the piece. In Legislative Theatre, the audience of the theatre piece consists of policy makers, business owners, political leaders and others who can affect systemic and institutional change. In both, a short play is created which ‘ends badly’ for the main character. The play is then ‘rewound’ and the audience is asked to come up on stage to try out other, more positive, strategies in order to have a different outcome. In this way, the actors and the audience ‘rehearse life’ within the safety of ‘play acting’.
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Legislative Theatre opens the possibility for change to be catalysed and creates a platform for the advocacy of rights. Working beyond issue awareness and community building, Legislative Theatre allows the participants to address the obstacles or oppressions they face to key policymakers in the audience who then interact with the play with the hope that these policymakers will then legislate systemic change in the community. Both forms use these participatory and interactive theatre techniques to examine communication breakdown and power imbalance.
For further information about both Forum & Legislative Theatre, please visit here.
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Interactive Theatre supplies the framework for the creation and performance of the play; the community supplies the content: be that HIV awareness raising, environmental concerns, gender equality issues, lung health, pollution or any other subject matter that is important to the community.
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​FPAC is looking to expand its AIPD programme for local, national and international partners. If using the arts as a means of policy development is of interest to you or your organisation, please email us at folkestonepac@gmail.com.
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With over 20 years of experience as a theatre for development practitioner in working with communities in struggle, Artistic Director Matthew Hahn has co-created interactive and participatory international theatre projects focusing on developing and enabling young people, social cohesion, peace-making and conflict resolution in the Global South & North.
All Pictures Taken From the UN High Commission for Human Rights Workshop in December 2024 which examined how theatre can be used as a tool for Human Rights and Systemic Change.