PartecipArte is a Theatre of the Oppressed company that brings to the stage abuses of power—and invites everyone to explore how to challenge them together, through creativity and play. Drawing on theatrical games and techniques from around the world, we create spaces to rehearse change and confront oppression in imaginative, participatory ways. We work in schools, prisons, universities and conflict zones, collaborating with NGOs, Associations, International Agencies, and Institutions across the globe.
Olivier Malcor is a French-Dutch philosopher who has been working with the theatre of the oppressed for more than 20 years, staging oppression and creating opportunities to deal with it collectively. He studied the methodology in the US and Latin America (2000-2003), wrote a thesis on “the invisible theatre of human relations” at the Sorbonne in Paris (2002). He worked in many districts of Marseille with TO on male violence (2003-2005). He lived in East Africa from 2005 to 2007, collaborating with several creative and political organizations. Now he lives in Rome where he founded Parteciparte in 2008 and keeps on working in Africa where he has created groups in Kenya, Tanzania, Comoro and Somalia. He also works regularly in Asia, Latin America and the Arabic world.
Claudia Signoretti is an experienced and enthusiastic project designer, engaged for a long time in international projects for women’s empowerment. She discovered theatre of the oppressed with Olivier in Rome in 2009. Immediately they started working together with TO, first on conflict management in the suburban schools, then with adults to overcome stereotypes and violence against women, in Italy and abroad. Over time she has refined the technique of theatrical reports and she persists in transforming the ideas of the audience into political proposals for the institutions. She has worked in various countries, particularly in Afghanistan and India, but also in Pakistan, Tunisia, Thailand, UK… In Italy she runs workshops and trainings on women’s empowerment, discrimination, and disability.
Many other people have been involved in these years.
Valentina Di Odoardo created several projects and shows on Trans-culture and consumption with CIES.
Rosa Martino enriched the work on theatrical aesthetics and work with the younger generations of unaccompanied migrants.
Leila Spignese organized trainings on differences in schools: She acts in various shows and she is committed in the Feminist network.
Lorenzo Macchi contributed to deepen the male question and the theme of the education of the youngest.
And many others brought contributions and competences, created unique characters, who sometimes continue to live …