Social Theater Facing Global Social Problems

This chapter explores the dynamic role of social theater as a potent force for empowerment and a vehicle for addressing global social challenges. Drawing on historical practices from ancient ritual to modern participatory performance, theater emerges as a multifaceted tool for healing, consciousness-raising, and problem-solving. The literature highlights its evolution into a transformative research methodology and intervention strategy, particularly within vulnerable and marginalized communities. From Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed to contemporary arts-based approaches in educational and postconflict contexts, social theater cultivates empathy and fosters critical reflection. It creates space for dialogue and collective meaning-making, anchored in embodied knowledge and relational epistemologies. Theater transcends mere entertainment—it becomes a practice of conscientization, a platform for advocacy, and a crucible for imagining alternative futures. Its affordability and accessibility reinforce its capacity to catalyze community-driven change at local and global levels, affirming McCammon’s assertion: “Theater is still one of the cheapest forms of empowerment!”