Scenario 30 — Integrative Forum Theatre (Boal): scenes from life in a new city (180’)

1. Overall goal and session logic

Warm‑up → scenes → Forum → strategies → showcase + 30 days

Goal: in safe conditions, practise responses to typical integration tensions (language, office, work, housing, university), build empathy and agency, develop a set of strategies (communication and organisational) and a plan for a Forum showcase in the community. Everyone creates a 30‑day action plan.

Logic: warm‑up and group agreement → images and mini‑scenes → build 2 problem scenes → Forum (audience interventions) → strategy mapping → showcase plan and 30‑day plan.

Final outputs:

TF1 — Safety agreement
TF2 — Warm‑ups and games (cheat sheet)
TF3 — Prompt bank for scenes
TF4 — Scene card (hero/conflict/opponents/allies)
TF5 — Forum facilitation (Joker cue card)
TF6 — Intervention cards (NVC/DESC/5D/bridges)
TF7 — Strategy map after the Forum
TF8 — Community showcase plan (90’)
TF9 — Consents and visibility (checklist)
TF10 — 30‑day plan (+ KPI)
TF‑R — Assessment rubric

Co-Funded by the European Union.

Source: scenario 30.

2. Learning outcomes (knowledge • skills • attitudes)

Communication, agency and safe testing of solutions

Knowledge

Understands the Forum Theatre rules and the Joker role; knows simple communication models (NVC, DESC, 5D), safety and inclusion principles.

Skills

builds a problem scene (TF4),
enters as a spect‑actor and tests solutions (TF6),
moderates discussion (Joker role, TF5),
catalogues action strategies (TF7),
plans a community showcase and 30‑day steps (TF8–TF10).

Attitudes

Agency, empathy, shared responsibility, respect for boundaries.

Co-Funded by the European Union.

Print together with TF‑R if you run assessment.

3. Organisational parameters

Room, materials, evaluation

Room: empty space + circle of chairs; 2 flipcharts; tape to mark the “stage”; speaker/phone (music for warm‑up).

Materials (A4/A3, 1 per person): TF1–TF10, TF‑R; sticky notes/markers; 2–3 neutral props (backpack, phone dummy, binder).

Evaluation: Mentimeter PRE/POST (3 questions – section 4) + TF‑R rubric + photos of the strategy map (no sensitive data).

Co-Funded by the European Union.

Tip: mark the “stage” with tape.

4. Mentimeter — questions (PRE and POST)

The same 3 questions before/after

“I can propose a safe response when I or others are excluded.”
“I can step into a role and test solutions on stage.”
“I know which 3 strategies I will use in real life over the next 30 days.”

Co-Funded by the European Union.

You can use a 1–5 scale.

5. Detailed agenda (180’)

Step by step: agreement → warm‑ups → scenes → Forum → transfer → showcase → 30‑day plan

0–12’ Group agreement and the Joker role (12’)

Goal: shared rules and the facilitator role (Joker).

Instruction: discuss TF1: voluntariness, pause, no physical violence, no reenacting trauma, fiction/anonymisation, the right to “STOP”. Joker: neutral moderator — keeps time, gives voice, ensures equality.

Material: TF1 + tape marking the “stage”.

12–28’ Body and voice warm‑up (16’)

Goal: loosen up and build attention.

Exercises from TF2:

“Name and gesture” — 2 rounds, increasing pace.
“Mirrors” — in pairs; leader and mirror.
“Integration sculptures” — groups of 3 create still images: “Office”, “Housing”, “Work”. Joker asks for small changes (freeze → micro‑move → new meaning).

Success: energy and readiness to build scenes.

28–45’ Prompt bank and topic selection (17’)

Goal: gather typical integration situations.

Instruction: everyone adds 2 short prompts to TF3 (one sentence, no personal data). Example categories: language (A2), office, work, housing, university, transport. Joker clusters on flipchart and selects 2 topics with the strongest resonance.

Success: at least 10 prompts on the flipchart.

45–80’ Building two problem scenes (35’)

Goal: create two short “mini‑films” (2–3 min) with a clear conflict.

Material: TF4.

Instruction: teams (7–10 people) complete TF4:

Hero (who experiences the difficulty),
Goal (what they want),
Opponents/obstacles, Allies (if any),
Place and time,
Red scene (the moment of highest tension).

Rehearse once “dry”, without focusing on text. Joker keeps it simple and readable.

Success: 2 ready scenes, 2–3 minutes each.

80–90’ BREAK (10’)

90–140’ Forum: spect‑actor interventions (50’)

Goal: test solutions and collect strategies.

Materials: TF5 (Joker cue card), TF6 (interventions).

Instruction:

The team plays the base scene (2–3 min).
Joker asks the audience: “Where did the hero get stuck? What could they try differently?”
Interventions: a viewer raises a hand, says one sentence with their intention, and steps onto the stage to replace the hero/ally.
Play for 60–90 s and freeze. Joker collects 2–3 reflections.
Repeat 3–4 interventions per scene.

Intervention rules (TF6): short, specific, non‑violent; use tools: NVC/DESC, KROK questions (from scenario 29), or the bystander 5D model.

Success: at least 6 interventions total; strategy list on the flipchart.

140–165’ Strategy mapping and transfer to life (25’)

Goal: move solutions from the stage into real life.

Material: TF7.

Instruction: assign interventions to categories: communication (e.g., a clear request, “pause”), organisational (e.g., a trusted person, a written message), alliance (who can help?), informational (what forms/links). Rate feasibility (1–5) and write the first step for the next 48 hours.

Success: at least 8 strategies with steps.

165–175’ Community showcase plan (10’)

Goal: prepare a mini‑show for the community/partners.

Materials: TF8, TF9.

Instruction: plan a 90’ showcase in 2–4 weeks: venue, 2 scenes, Joker role, invitations (PL↔UA if needed), photo consents (TF9), safety rules.

Success: TF8 draft with a tentative date and roles.

175–180’ Mentimeter POST + 30‑day plan (5’)

Goal: close and commit.

Instruction: in TF10 write 3 actions (e.g., “I’ll practise 2 DESC sentences”, “I’ll organise a scene rehearsal at university”, “I’ll write a clear request e‑mail to an office”) + KPI (e.g., number of practices, number of real-life interventions used, participant feedback).

Co-Funded by the European Union.

Tip: set a timer for interventions (60–90 s).

6. Good facilitation practices (Joker)

Plain language • safety • equal voice

Plain language; short sentences; gesture and image matter more than text.
Safety: stop word; no physical violence; we do not reenact trauma — we replace elements (time/place/role).
Equal voice: rotate interventions (not the same person twice in a row), invite quieter participants, 90‑second limit per entry.
Bridges: scenario 03 (assertiveness), 16 (anti‑discrimination/5D), 24 (mediation), 28–29 (communication and local integration), 23/26 (letters/contracts — solution transfer).
Validation: emphasise there are no “bad interventions” — these are prototypes we test.

Co-Funded by the European Union.

This is education, not therapy.

7. Adaptations, plan B, variants

Language barrier / smaller group / less time

Language barrier: PL↔UA pairs; Joker provides phrase frames on cards; allow non‑verbal acting (gesture/movement).
High sensitivity: choose “lighter” topics (university, transport, housing) or use “Story circles + 4‑panel comic” instead of scenes — template in attachments (EX1).
Small group (≤10): one scene + more interventions; double strategy mapping round.
Less time (120’): warm‑up 10’, build 1 scene 20’, Forum 45’, mapping 20’, showcase/plan 10’, POST 5’.
More time (+30’): add “Image → Dialogue” (Image Theatre) and “Forum 2” with a new scene.

Co-Funded by the European Union.

EX1 and EX2 are in “Attachments” below.

8. Evaluation and reporting indicators

Visible in trainer mode

Mentimeter PRE/POST — 3 questions (section 4).
Outputs: TF4 (scene cards), strategy flipchart, TF8–TF10.

TF‑R rubric (0–2 points/criterion, max 10):

Scene building (TF4)
Intervention quality (TF6; specific/safe)
Joker moderation (TF5; time/equality)
Strategy map (TF7)
Showcase plan + 30‑day plan (TF8–TF10)

Interpretation: 0–3 beginner; 4–7 solid; 8–10 ready to implement.

Co-Funded by the European Union.

Print TF‑R for assessment.

9. Printable attachments (ready-to-use)

Each attachment has its own print button

TF1 — Safety agreement

Voluntary participation (I can opt out of an exercise)

The right to pause / take a break

Fiction/anonymisation — no personal data

No physical violence

The word “STOP” works immediately

Equal voices — we don’t interrupt, we make space for others

Photo/visibility rules are discussed separately (TF9)

Our additional rules (optional)

Co-Funded by the European Union.

TF2 — Warm-ups (cheat sheet)

Name & gesture | Mirrors | Integration sculptures | Word chorus (1–2 words, rhythm).

Select a warm‑up set (tick)

Name & gesture (2 rounds, increasing pace)

Mirrors (pairs: leader and mirror)

Integration sculptures (images: Office / Housing / Work)

Word chorus (1–2 words, rhythm)

Facilitator notes

Co-Funded by the European Union.

TF3 — Prompt bank for scenes

Prompts (min. 10; one sentence each, no personal data)

Selected TOPICS (2)

Co-Funded by the European Union.

TF4 — Scene card

Hero (who experiences the difficulty)

Goal (what they want)

Opponents / obstacles Allies (if any)

Place

Time

Red scene (highest tension; 2–3 sentences)

Co-Funded by the European Union.

TF5 — Joker cue card

“What did the hero want?” | “Where did they get stuck?” | “Who could be an ally?” | “How can we try a different approach?” | “What will we test for 90 s?”.

What did the hero want?

Where did they get stuck?

Who could be an ally?

How can we try a different approach?

What will we test for 90 seconds?

Joker notes

Co-Funded by the European Union.

TF6 — Intervention cards

NVC | DESC | 5D | KROK | “Please speak slower / differently”.

NVC (observation → feeling → need → request) DESC (describe → express → specify → consequences) 5D bystander model (Direct / Delegate / Document / Distract / Delay) KROK (context → thing → expectation → step) Phrase frames (A2–B2): “Please speak slower / differently”

Co-Funded by the European Union.

TF7 — Strategy map (after the Forum)

Category	Strategy	Feasibility (1–5)	48‑hour step
Communication
Organisational
Alliance
Informational

Co-Funded by the European Union.

TF8 — Community showcase plan (90’)

Venue

Date

2 scenes (titles)

Joker (person)

Room roles / responsibilities Invitations + channels Consents and photo rules (TF9) Short post‑show evaluation

Co-Funded by the European Union.

TF9 — Consents and visibility (checklist)

Image consent | Photo rules (faces? profiles?) | Project/EU logos and disclaimers | Publication channels.

Image consent collected (or decision: no photos)

Photo rules agreed (e.g., no faces / back view only / profiles)

Project/EU logos and disclaimers added

Publication channels agreed (website, social media, report)

Privacy and safety notes

Co-Funded by the European Union.

TF10 — 30‑day plan (3 actions + KPI)

Action 1–3 | Person/pair | Deadline | KPI: number of practices, number of real‑life interventions, participant feedback.

Action	Person/pair	Deadline	KPI

Co-Funded by the European Union.

TF‑R — Assessment rubric (0–2 points/criterion, max 10)

TF4 • TF6 • TF5 • TF7 • TF8–TF10 — interpretation: 0–3 beginner; 4–7 solid; 8–10 ready.

Criterion	1	2
TF4 — Scene building	—	—
TF6 — Intervention quality (specific/safe)	—	—
TF5 — Joker moderation (time/equality)	—	—
TF7 — Strategy map	—	—
TF8–TF10 — Showcase plan + 30‑day plan	—	—

Interpretation: 0–3 beginner; 4–7 solid; 8–10 ready to implement.

Co-Funded by the European Union.

EX1 — Plan B: Story circles + 4‑panel comic

An alternative instead of scenes (for high sensitivity / language barrier).

Short instruction: in a circle, each person tells a 60–90 second story (anonymised/fictional). Then, in pairs, you draw/design a 4‑panel comic that shows the problem and a possible solution.

Panel 1 — Context	Panel 2 — Tension

Panel 3 — Attempted solution	Panel 4 — Result / takeaway

Co-Funded by the European Union.

EX2 — Image Theatre: “Image → Dialogue” (+30’ module)

Extension: work with images, then a short dialogue and interventions.

The team creates an “image” (a sculpture) of the problem.

Joker asks for micro‑changes (movement, distance, gaze direction).

A viewer proposes one change, steps in and tests it (non‑violent).

A short dialogue (2–3 sentences), then reflection and one strategy to TF7.

Notes: what worked?

Co-Funded by the European Union.

Show disclaimer

Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Foundation for the Development of the Education System (FRSE). Neither the European Union nor FRSE can be held responsible for them.

Tip: print single attachments — each has its own button.

10. Branding and compliance

Visible in trainer mode

Cards marked with “Mosty Nadziei” logo, EU flag + “Co‑funded by the European Union”, Erasmus+ logo; partners (KIS, Asociația Se Poate).
Space for the project number and the information clause.
Disclaimer: educational workshop, not therapy; if needed — provide contacts to psychological/NGO support.

Co-Funded by the European Union.

Compliance: logos + disclaimer in materials.