Forum theatre

Newspaper headlines

There are three levels of conflict. These are, latent, emerging and manifest.

  • Latent: This is where the conditions for conflict or bullying exist, but the parties are not consciously involved yet.
  • Emerging: This is where some but not all of the participants recognise conflict or bullying is taking place and are actively involved.
  • Manifest: This is where the conflict or bullying is clearly evident to all the participants and to outsiders and is being deliberately escalated.

Activity

  • Prepare 3 tableaux (freeze frames) of a dramatic scene showing a serious (manifest) online conflict. Come up with a headline that goes with it.
  • Then prepare two more freeze frames, showing the latent and emerging stages to go with their manifest stage. Come up with headlines for each of these.
  • Each group performs the three freezes in sequence.
  • You can say the headlines in chorus, or individually when you move into the pose.
Newspaper Headlines.mov
Transcript of newspaper headlines video
Inaudible dialogue. Student’s rehearsing. Student group 1: Silent scandal (move to a new tableau). Revenge (move to a new tableau). Exclusion. Student group 2: Obsession (move to a new tableau). Harassment (move to a new tableau). Realisation. Student group 3: Exclusion (move to a new tableau). Harassment (move to a new tableau). Hierarchy).
End of transcript.