Augusto Boal Biography
Augusto Boal is famous for establishing the Theatre of Oppressed at the early 1970s. The theatre acts that Augusto Boal directed are usually about oppressions in daily life that people may come across, which then he tries to find solution for it through the theatre. For example, parents who tries to help a child on drugs, a neighbor who've been kicked out from his house, discriminations, or people who does not know how to make friends with others.
Augusto Boal was raised in Rio de Janerio. At first, he attended the Columbia University at late 1940s and early 1950s, and studies chemical engineering. Then, after he got the degree of chemical engineering, he was asked to go back to Brazil to work in the Arena Theatre in Sao Paulo. He accepted the offer, and gain experiences and knowledge while he's working in the Arena Theatre.
The government of Brazil look the theatre that Augusto Boal created as a threat. Since it's a threat to them, and they need to 'protect the citizens' by getting rid of these threads. One day when Augusto Boal was walking home from a Arena performance, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, he was kidnapped from the street. He was arrested, tortured, and then exiled to Argentina. While he's in Argentina, he published the first famous theatre text- The Theatre of Oppressed. After that, he went to Europe. He teaches his revolutionary approach to the theatres, and create a several Centers for the Theatre of Oppressed. 1981, he organized the first International Festival of the Theatre of Oppressed at Paris.
He then went back to Rio de Janerio in 1986 and created a major centre of Theatre of Oppressed there. He had also formed companies to put up community based performances. In 1992, he was invited to participate in the National Conference of the Association for Theatre in Higher Education in Atlanta, Georgia. In the same year, he has published his second book , Games for Actors and Non-Actors. After that, Augusto Boal was elected as being one in 49 seats, over one thousand candidates as the Vereador of Rio, which has a similar job as a City Council member in US. At 1994 and 1995, he presented workshops to students, teachers, and regional social service staffs. His third book, The Rainbow of Desire was also published at 1995. He worked for the Royal Shakespeare Company at 1997. At the same year in August, he was awarded Career Achievement Award by the Association for Theatre when he was in Chicago.
Then, he had also worked with prisoners in Rio and São Paulo. He used the Theatre of Oppressed to help the prisoners to strike "a healthier and more creative lifestyle." 2008, Augusto Boal was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. 2009 March, he had also received "World Theatre Ambassador" from UNESCO.
The sparkling Augusto Boal died at May 2, 2009, at the age of 78, in Rio de Janerio.
Augusto Boal was raised in Rio de Janerio. At first, he attended the Columbia University at late 1940s and early 1950s, and studies chemical engineering. Then, after he got the degree of chemical engineering, he was asked to go back to Brazil to work in the Arena Theatre in Sao Paulo. He accepted the offer, and gain experiences and knowledge while he's working in the Arena Theatre.
The government of Brazil look the theatre that Augusto Boal created as a threat. Since it's a threat to them, and they need to 'protect the citizens' by getting rid of these threads. One day when Augusto Boal was walking home from a Arena performance, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, he was kidnapped from the street. He was arrested, tortured, and then exiled to Argentina. While he's in Argentina, he published the first famous theatre text- The Theatre of Oppressed. After that, he went to Europe. He teaches his revolutionary approach to the theatres, and create a several Centers for the Theatre of Oppressed. 1981, he organized the first International Festival of the Theatre of Oppressed at Paris.
He then went back to Rio de Janerio in 1986 and created a major centre of Theatre of Oppressed there. He had also formed companies to put up community based performances. In 1992, he was invited to participate in the National Conference of the Association for Theatre in Higher Education in Atlanta, Georgia. In the same year, he has published his second book , Games for Actors and Non-Actors. After that, Augusto Boal was elected as being one in 49 seats, over one thousand candidates as the Vereador of Rio, which has a similar job as a City Council member in US. At 1994 and 1995, he presented workshops to students, teachers, and regional social service staffs. His third book, The Rainbow of Desire was also published at 1995. He worked for the Royal Shakespeare Company at 1997. At the same year in August, he was awarded Career Achievement Award by the Association for Theatre when he was in Chicago.
Then, he had also worked with prisoners in Rio and São Paulo. He used the Theatre of Oppressed to help the prisoners to strike "a healthier and more creative lifestyle." 2008, Augusto Boal was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. 2009 March, he had also received "World Theatre Ambassador" from UNESCO.
The sparkling Augusto Boal died at May 2, 2009, at the age of 78, in Rio de Janerio.