Acting on reality: Theatre methods in youth work

This training course explores how theatre can become a powerful tool in youth work to open dialogue, challenge perspectives, and create meaningful learning experiences. Through participatory and artistic methods inspired by Theatre of the Oppressed, participants will discover how to work with complex topics such as power, discrimination, and social inequality in a way that is engaging, inclusive, and grounded in real experiences.

The focus is not on performance skills, but on using theatre as a method to support young people in expressing themselves, reflecting on their realities, and exploring possibilities for change. Participants will experience how theatre-based approaches can create safer spaces for dialogue, participation, critical thinking, and collective reflection within youth work and educational settings.

Over four days, participants will take part in a dynamic learning process that moves from group building and trust towards deeper exploration of social themes, collective creation, and reflection. Through games, image theatre, Forum Theatre, and other experiential methods, they will actively test how theatre approaches can be adapted to different youth work contexts and group needs.

The training combines nonformal education methods, experiential learning, reflection exercises, group processes, and practical experimentation. Participants will explore how theatre can support communication, participation, empowerment, and social awareness while strengthening their confidence in facilitating creative and participatory learning processes.

Your trainer, Metka Bahlen Okoli, is an educator, youth worker, theatre pedagogue, and performer with more than 20 years of experience in nonformal education and cultural activism. As a co-founder of Zavod Bob and KUD Transformator, she has worked extensively with Theatre of the Oppressed, Forum Theatre, public interventions, and participatory artistic processes across Europe, supporting young people and communities through storytelling, dialogue, and creative expression.