Forum theatre from a community psychology perspective

Having responded to a request from Community Justice Initiatives of Waterloo Region to enact a Forum Theatre presentation, I have here described the process that took place and evaluated that process from a community psychology social action perspective. Participants included both drama troupe members and audience participants who were attempting to utilise Forum Theatre to further their understanding of and to help prevent sexual abuse in their community.;To describe and analyse the application of Forum Theatre at Community Justice Initiatives, I performed a content analysis on a group interview, a participant journal and audience surveys, and used field notes to develop a case study of the project.;Empowerment received the strongest recognition by participants and the theme included discussion of democratic leadership style, mind-set challenge, and the importance of groups that are open, supportive, and provide safe opportunities to take risks. Hope was also recognised as fundamental to enabling empowerment and the Forum Theatre exercise was described as integrative and a useful tool for issue analysis and consciousness-raising. The audience also engaged in an annunciative process by directing actors to illustrate what the audience considered to be a "healthy" family situation.;Identified avenues of potential future explorations include facilitating intensified macro-level analysis utilising Forum Theatre, fostering broader community enhancement using artistic modalities, exploring the meaning of the ecological perspective for communities, and a challenge to community psychology to develop a legacy of value-true community work tools for its students and practitioners. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...