MC's role
You have created a play in the Forum Theatre model.
You can perform it in front of a local community audience. But somebody has to bring that audience into our Forum, to make them part of the debate, to let them know that they are important and that their views matter, to tell them how they can do that.
We shall call this person the MC. We don’t mean a super stylish, distant, pompous tv star MC but a friendly person who is just “one of us” who has come to get us to join in the game.
The role of the Forum Theatre facilitator is rich and challenging. A facilitator in Forum Theatre needs to have all the skills of a good leader and group member. Here are some recommendations on how to facilitate a Forum Theatre event and some ideas towards practising the skill.
The facilitator is friendly, clear, neutral, non-judgmental. He/she must remember that the job is to give power to the audience, not to keep it for yourself.
He/She is not an autocrat but holds the space for others to debate the issues. The attitude should be “We see there is a problem. We can change this together”.
And, VERY IMPORTANT, this role can be shared by two people who work together to perform the MC’s tasks.
The tasks of the MC
...are quite a lot and the workshop leader should introduce these by demonstrating them as he/she explains:
Before the play, the facilitator observes the audience as they are entering the space. This will give you an idea of who is present. This is crucial as a Forum Theatre play is aimed at people who are experiencing, or who may experience, the situation that the central character is dealing with. If a different kind of audience arrives, you may need to adjust what you do.
First dialogue with audience
at beginning of event – before the first run of forum play
Second dialogue with audience
After the first run of the forum play
There are only 3 rules you must stick to when you come up here:
Then the facilitator stands at the side of the stage and watches the audience very carefully as if encouraging them to shout "STOP!".
Third dialogue with audience
When an audience member shouts “STOP” for an intervention.
OR
Fourth dialogue with audience
At end of intervention (or when the facilitator thinks the scene has gone long enough).
Fifth (possible) dialogue with audience
If there is no intervention in a very “oppressive” scene.
Sixth dialogue with audience
Now we have to find an MC in each group or a “double act” of two MCs who can support each other in doing all the above in a “tag” format (one begins, the next one takes over, hands back to number 1 etc.). This way they can prompt each other, demonstrate together, remind each other if anything is forgotten.
So the best way is for those who think they might like to be an MC to take the first dialogue (above) and try it out in front of others. There is not only one way to be an MC. each person will find their own way of doing it. Relax and enjoy the experience.
When someone has tried being an MC give feedback, let people try a few times – they might be quite stiff at first but with advice and time they can relax and find the right style. Help them get there.
If two people want to try together give them a little time to prepare and then they can attempt the “double act”.
This is such an important role that we are dedicating a whole day to it but the others can continue to rehearse the plays during this time.
For those who are rehearsing their plays think about what kind of interventions you might expect, and how you might react to new ideas, e.g. how might you react as a trafficker if confronted and called a liar, what would you do if an audience member tried to convince you not to go sign up for working abroad? Etc.
Please note: