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Zimbabwe: Theory X theatre Project
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There are so so many wonderful things I want to say about this course -
so many and they are all running around my head like hungry
children squashing forward - desperately struggling to the front of the
dinner queue; desperate to express the many feelings I experienced - all
the things I want to say that could do justice to this incredible
journey of self-discovery and universal harmony.
It was a real spiritual journey - but not in the way you may expect -
there was no embarrassing rituals - and never once was I asked to
pretend I was a leaf dancing in the wind! Not that there is anything
wrong with those things, but for some it can be rather daunting and
quite nauseating!
One thing which still amazes me about this course which is very much
grounded in reality; real issues; real people; no
sugar-coated rose-tinted glasses; is the fact that somehow, it magically
and cleverly transforms the mind and empowers the individual.
The senses are challenged; suddenly I begin to understand the full
meaning of perception, for my World is as I see it, is not the
same World as others see it! Black is not Black and White is
not white! There is a whole new area with various and wonderful shades
of grey! One important thing which needs to be noted - is the real sense
of mutual respect and trust within the group. Jennifer is a great leader
and there is no hierarchy within the group - everyone is equal and there
is never that student-teacher feel which I appreciated, as I felt
more able to take risks - there was no right or wrong. I felt totally at
ease and always in control. Never at any moment did I feel uncomfortable
or embarrassed. I felt completely free to express myself.
Aside from self-discovery - the journey that I went through left me with
a true sense of empathy; it made me aware of myself; how often I judge
and how these judgements affect my reactions; as a result, personal
relationships have improved because suddenly I have a new sense of
understanding, more tolerance and even my listening skills have
improved!
There is so much more I feel I could say but instead I will cram it all
into a nutshell :
Amazing and enlightening...this course is extremely accessible and very
beneficial whoever you consider yourself to be; the mother, the lover,
the sister the brother, the lion, the mouse, the boss of the house, the
teacher, the child, the shy girl turned wild - age means nothing - when
all is said and done - for there's a little of us all - in each and
everyone!
(Debbie, Wales - 4th October 2008)
This was a workshop that was heavily loaded (positively) and
psychologically rewarding. Its one powerful tool that awakens the inner
self, and thoroughly motivating. I rate it as a must attend workshop++,
the tip is the more you put in, the more you get, it works just like
that! I have never rewarded myself happiness more than just by being
kind to myself.
A Puppet Without Strings- this is one piece of literature that is, so
pure, full of real emotions and very much inspiring.
(Kudzai, Sweden - 24th
September 2008)
With Jennifer, the most inspiring facilitator, the course has enriched
my professional, student and day-to-day life.
I found from the course, that we are not alone. This is the most
comforting, useful tool I have been given from any course.
The course provided me with a larger capacity toward an understanding of
other people, while developing self-awareness with a new insight to life
experiences.
At the same time, I did have fun!
I'm looking forward to Course Level Two.
(Nika, Australia - 24th September 2008)
The course was thoroughly
rewarding both personally and professionally, it gave a real insight
into the methods used in creating forum theatre and the therapeutic
effects working in this way can have. Jennifer was an excellent
facilitator whose professionalism and experience was an inspiration
throughout the week.
(Ben, UK - 24th September 2008)
From the moment I entered the room, a beam of light seeps over me,
supporting, stimulating and opening awareness. All this and more is
brought into brilliant clarity by a passionate and structured
facilitator.
A rollercoaster journey..........
(Elaine, Wales - 20th September 2008)
Having a background with no drama, I found that this form of expression
can be a very powerful tool to use. It is easy to get involved and it
can address problems that you usually just brush to one side. Definitely
a mind blowing experience that I would recommend to others for sure. A
well run course that can be for anybody. Thoroughly enjoyed!
(Justin, Wales - 20th September 2008)
Theatre in its purest and
most democratic form, has the ability not only to empower individuals
and push towards social change, but also of uniting people through a
greater understanding of ourselves and others around us. If anyone has
any doubts about this they should take this course. One of the most
trying, and certainly the most rewarding workshop I have ever been a
part of!
(Tess, Brazil - 17th September 2008)
At
times I was the patient and times I was the student. A workshop like no
other, captivating from start to finish, and how refreshing it was to
work with a group of people who genuinely want to help others. A truly
enlightening experience that will stay with me always.
(Jo, Wales - 17th September 2008)
The impact of theatre, drama...
It's one of those things that digs, nags and gets under the skin. It
doesn't leave you, and you can't lose it like a set of keys, or forget
it like a name or phone number and no one can steal if from you because
it's an idea. That's its power!
(Gary, UK - 7th August 2008)
It was at times very intense, I learnt so
much in such a short time. I realised how little I knew about Forum
Theatre, its so much more. A good mix of people with different
experiences. Thank you to you all.
(Valerie, UK - 17th June 2008)
Like a lot of drama teachers I thought I
had a pretty good idea of what Forum Theatre was and how it could be
applied. After the course I realised much more fully its potential and
use for transformation and progress - in both personal and social
contexts.
(Kim, UK - 7th June 2008)
A fantastic week. Not only
inspiring, motivating and lots of fun but also personally very
rewarding. It was like a massage for the mind in that it relaxed self
restrictions and allowed you to tackle your own mental tensions in a
safe and gentle environment. Often over used but spot on in this case -
Empowering.
(David, Wales - 7th June 2008)
Life as I have learned has all types and a
new way of talking to each other, establishing new discourse and
dialogues is essentially what I think diversity is. I gained much
knowledge about how other people and myself included learn from
participation in group exercises, most of all that setting the
atmosphere of confidence and trust allows everyone to learn about
themselves and become who they truly are.
(Andrew, UK - 6th June 2008)
It was more challenging than I expected – I hadn't thought I'd have to
give so much of myself. I listened to what you said though and followed
the process and got more out of the exercises the more I put in…I really
liked the way you work. I have not seen anyone move between all those
levels before - the personal; the process; instruction; feelings;
reasoning levels…I really thank you for the experience of working with
you and for making such great creative leaps possible.
(Suzanne, UK - 6th June 2008)
I had a really positive experience throughout, even if the world came to
an end after the second day, I still would have got an immense amount
from the course. I would be really interested in doing the 2nd level,
anywhere.
(Kwesi, UK - 6th June 2008)
The course was scary, thought provoking,
challenging, interesting, daunting and packed with fun.
Most importantly it has been a journey of discovery and inspiration.
(Sam, Wales - 23rd April 2008)
I wish for everyone that they get to do
these workshops. They are amazing and you learn so much about so many
many things and about yourself. The facilitator Jennifer was great and
seemed to just know what we had gone through without ever having to poke
at it and keep asking. When you have had to leave your own country, when
you have been harmed as we have been harmed you never expect to come all
this way and find someone who can reach deep inside and understand you
and help take away some of the pain. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
(Sinidu, Somalia - 15th April 2008)
I think the advances in past
months are inspiring! The educational links are a great idea, I look
forward to contributing in the near future. The Sin Eater is absolutely
wonderful - cerebral, therapeutic, psychological theatre! I loved it and
look forward to using with students in coming months.
(Jeff, Venezuela - 8th January 2008)
A
Puppet Without Strings (Jennifer Hartley) Excellent literature!
I guess the best way
to describe this book is by saying it is REAL! For a long time growing
up I thought I did not like poetry because I couldn't understand
it...until I came across those verses that truly touched me and were
able to present in words what I felt but couldn't express. This book is
one of those which have precisely that effect and it goes beyond
that...it takes you on a personal "introspective journey"...It forces
you into a self analytical exercise. It is not your typical cute,
romantic, weepy poetry, nor is it your angry "disappointed with the
world" kind of poetry either...it is REAL...there is sentiment, there
are tears, there is anger, there is happiness, joy...there are memories,
good and bad...there are good feelings and negative ones...in other
words...there is what real life is all about!! The author says in her
preface that this poetry is about her... but it is about ALL OF US...it
is about you, and about me...why? Because it EXPRESSES all those
feelings that you and I also feel, but either cannot or do not want to
express openly... Reading some of the poems made me feel like she was
describing my feelings, my life, my memories in many occasions...We
human beings are hopeless idealists, and that sometimes makes us forget
of what is REAL...I call my experience with this literature "an
introspective journey" because it made me look look at myself in the
mirror, it made me confront a lot of what is within me...and most
importantly perhaps...realize that it is OK...that I can be that, just
what I am...sometimes happy, sometimes sad...sometimes good, sometimes
bad...sometimes kind and sometimes...as the author puts it...just be a
bitch! That...is REAL life.
(Maria, UK - 10th November 2007)
For myself I have seen that you teach me a lot more than I was
expecting. This is my first time to participate in this type of workshop
and I promise to send feedback on how I will use it in my work. I think
this type of approach will great especially for the youth. Thank you for
spending a lot of your time teaching us. God will bless you.
(Azaria, Tanzania - 2nd October 2007)
I have understood the workshop and learned about teaching other people
to do forum theatre. I am happy with these workshops.
(Saida, Tanzania - 2nd October 2007)
In these workshops I have increased my knowledge and experience of
theatre activities and especially forum theatre.
(Faraji, Tanzania - 2nd October 2007)
I want to do this again!
(Magreth, Tanzania - 2nd October 2007)
I really appreciate the workshops and the facilitators for doing such a
good job and the knowledge they imparted to us. Thank you.
(Msilu, Tanzania - 2nd October 2007)
Thank you so much to the facilitators for their great job of teaching
us. I hope this happens again and for longer than one week.
(Masasi, Tanzania - 2nd October 2007)
I appreciate the workshops and I have been very happy with the
facilitators and the education I have received. I hope this happens
again and for longer next time.
(Dorah, Tanzania - 2nd October 2007)
I am very pleased with this workshop. For me it was unique as it was
having training with a lot of exercises which decorated the workshop
and made it shine. All in all I want to say it was good, tiring also for
me as I have been lazy with other workshops in the past which I have
attended, but not with this one. Thank you very much for educating me.
(Mkusa, Tanzania - 2nd October 2007)
I learned new things from you.
(Chedieli, Tanzania - 2nd October 2007)
I
appreciated the training - it is the first time I have ever had an
education like that.
(Yahaya Tanzania - 1st October 2007)
In these workshops I learned so many good things: cooperation, acting,
games and more. And the facilitator was very good always in her work.
(Paula Tanzania - 1st October 2007)
Thank you so much for teaching me.
(Mtitu Tanzania - 1st October 2007)
I have received so much education on forum theatre and I will extend
that knowledge to others in my community.
(Benadeta Tanzania - 1st October 2007)
I have gained knowledge of Image and Forum theatre. You are a part of my
life.
(Hamisi Tanzania - 1st October 2007)
I would like this workshop to be repeated and to last for even longer.
Thank you for training us.
(Eliza Tanzania - 1st October 2007)
I loved our facilitator and I want her to come again and teach us.
(Restuta, Tanzania - 1st October 2007)
I realized that everyone, or at least a great
majority of people, feel oppressed somehow, and that even if we don't
know the oppressor, we can, in someway or another, relate to them.
The Sao Paulo workshop at Graded was really worthwhile! I loved the
whole "Boal Experience" and working with students & teachers from
different schools!
Kudos to you for doing such an amazing thing, Jennifer!
(Paulo, Brazil - 15th September 2007)
Jennifer's workshop on Augusto Boal was a great way
of learning tactics of theatre and experiencing the theatre of
oppression. Working with students from other schools made me see
that we can learn a lot with people from "outside of our cycle"
It was a very rich experience.
(Beatriz, Brazil - 15th September 2007)
My experience with Jenifer in the Workshop at Sao
Paulo at my school was one of the best I ever had. Through out the week
I reflected on my oppressors and it has helped me personally. Also it
was very very very fun to work with other schools and interact doing
different activities with people I have ever seen.
I appreciate her work very much.
(Carolina, Brazil - 15th September 2007)
Some weeks ago we had the delight of having Jennifer
give us a workshop here in Uruguay and it was terrific! I really enjoyed
it, as well as my classmates did.
I discovered more about my oppressors, which in fact were not whom I'd
expected them to be: the most harmful one, the one I fought everyday
against was actually myself.
I thank you so much for helping me discover this, and many other things,
through you're exercises.
To add it up I wish you the best of luck and hope I , someday, have the
chance of working with you again. I'm sorry it took me this much time to
write the feedback, and I guess it is actually longer than many others
so I believe I got carried away a bit too much...
Thank you!
(Sofia, Uruguay - 29th August 2007)
Jennifer, first of all I want to thank you for coming
all the way down to Uruguay. The workshop was absolutely fantastic and I
enjoyed every minute of it. During those six hours we were able to do
ensemble work, allowing us to get to know our classmates, our friends
and during individual work, ourselves. This was a whole new experience
full of meaning that I still think of and reflect till today. This
experience changed part of my mentality and helped me visualize many
things I wasn’t able to see before. I would definitely wish to repeat
it, and to get deeper into some issues which might change even more the
relationship in the group. You are welcome anytime you want, we will be
waiting anxiously.
(Elisa, Uruguay - 29th August 2007)
Jennifer the workshop was great!!! I wanted to post a
comment before, but it slipped my mind... I congratulate you for what
you do, I was amazed. I enjoyed it completely, really. Didn't expect it
to be so "therapuetical" but excellent anyway. thanks! You're welcome
anyday.
(Melisa, Uruguay - 28th August 2007)
The work on this site helped motivate us to do
similar stuff and we are grateful for all the support you have given us
in doing this.
(Stefan, Serbia - 16th July 2007)
This site is fantastic....love the changes. I am very
excited by the Zimbabwe Project and the openning of THE SIN EATER. Keep
on fighting the good fight!
(Sherri, USA - 10th July 2007)
Great site - loved reading the Zimbabwe work.
(Thom, France - 10th June 2007)
You came to our school cos of problems we had with
our friend who died. Thank you, you taught us lots of things in such a
short time and made us feel stronger and able to deal with it all. And
you made us laugh a lot at a time when all we were doing was crying. We
all still think of you Jennifer and hope you come back soon.
(Sharon, Helen & Paul, UK - 10th June 2007)
I loved the workshop we had with you and in a short
time learned so much. I pray you come back and spend more time with us.
God bless all of you who do this work, I don't know what motivates you
but I hope you know how much it is appreciated.
(Reg, Zimbabwe - 5th June 2007)
Hey there TvO - thanks for Jen's work here in Zim.
the real impact of it is actually really scary as it changes the way you
think about everything - you see it in everything and in everyone. the
training was amazing, Jen you have a gift. Where do we go from here? how
do we find the courage to take the first steps by ourselves...the only
way is up! thanks and see you again and soon. Fambai zvakanaka Jen,
Maita basa x
(Gavin, Zimbabwe - 5th June 2007)
I've been reading the Zimbabwe comments and just
wanted to say I've done workshop training with Jen in the past and it
was amazing, it truly changed my life so I know how these people must be
feeling. If you get the chance to go to them I recommend it - a life
changing experience.
Thank you
(James, Scotland - 31st May 2007)
The website looks great and I am glad you are still
doing workshops. Never stop! Gracias por todo Jennifer. Hasta pronto.
(Pablo, Chile - 31st May 2007)
"Being told anything good doesn't make me feel good
and being told anything bad doesn't make me feel worse, I know what's
right and what's wrong". Thank you for leading me into self discovery
and liberation.
(Remo, Zimbabwe - 31st May 2007)
Working with Dr J.S Hartley has transformed me into a
different person altogether. I learnt a lot and mostly, I have developed
a great deal as an individual. I have for so long oppressed myself and
done much harm than good but after all the work Dr Jennifer did with our
group, I have since been able to look at myself differently. I have also
been able to look at my oppressors from a different perspective and I am
a new man now. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK Dr JENNIFER!
(Gift, Zimbabwe - 31st May 2007)
Jen - sos la unica! Gracias por todo.
(Juan, Brazil - 31st May 2007)
For my personal development the theatre of the
oppressed helped me to discover ways of dealing with problems and self
oppressions. Now I know "praise doesn’t make me any better and criticism
doesn't make me any worse". Thank you Jennifer, you proved me wrong. God
bless you.
If you ever in your life felt useless or someone told you that you are
useless, stand and defy that! WAKAKOSHA (you are special) God bless you.
Take care!
(Remo, Zimbabwe - 29th May 2007)
Jen's visit here was perfectly timed, she touched my
soul and I wish she could reach out to so many other souls out there.
The experience with Jen was so great - divine! Thank you so much for
coming to Zimbabwe.
(Kudzai, Zimbabwe - 28th May 2007)
I have gained skills on how to scrutinise myself and
be kind to myself at the same time. All I can say is that theatre versus
oppression brings a change in your life. If you experience it you will
never be the same!!!
(Rumbidzai, Zimbabwe - 28th May 2007)
My personal experience with theatre versus oppression
left me with a completely different outlook to life. It is hard to
remain the same person I was before after experiencing this kind of
theatre. My personal opinion is that this kind of theatre was long
overdue in Africa.
(Tendai, Zimbabwe - 28th May 2007)
All efforts to remind the world about the many
'forgotten people' in places like Zimbabwe or Paraguay, deserve our
total support and encouragement. Well done!
(Rogelio, UK - 24th May 2007)
The new additions are great! Very interesting and
helpful resources in the Educational area! Congratulations!
(Agustin - 24th May 2007)
Mauya TVO and Jennifer!
The students and I are so looking forward to having you soon! it is so
exciting - we will try not to get her arrested (very likely these days)
or attacked by any witch doctors.
Gavin & Theory X in Zim
(24th April 2007)
It was so good to read
about your involvement with Zimbabwe, a country the west seems to have
forgotten completely and so so great to hear about their theatre
projects. Fantastic site.
(Mogi, Ghana - 22nd April 2007)
The site looks great. I
love all the updates and additions.
(Paul, UK - 21st April 2007)
I will be adding and
using the resource page and am looking forward to what others submit. As
soon as I am settled, I will be contributing.
I am interested in the Zimbabwe project and will be keeping a check on
what is happening.
The new look of the site is fantastic!
(Sherri, USA - 20th April 2007)
Jennifer, thanks for the
hard work you have always put into ALL your projects. I hope one day,
you'll realize how many lives you've touched! Love!
(Peter, USA - 20th April 2007)
A great site, great ideas and inspiring work.
(Jane, USA - 19th April 2007)