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About Us

to play.


to create. 



to transform.

Dialogue Theatre has been created and developed by the Makhampom Foundation in Thailand and Free Theatre in Australia.  

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The Makhampom Theatre Group, now Makhampom Foundation, has been engaged in applied theatre since 1980, which has included community theatre, public performance, theatre in education, international touring, Study Tour hosting, a facilitator school, social enterprise, and dialogue theatre initiatives. The dialogue theatre practice involved the coalescence of various theatre arts forms, community development, inter-cultural process, and conflict transformation methodology, applied in villages, universities, factories, prisons, schools, and war zones in Thailand and the Asia-Pacific region.

 

Free Theatre was founded in Melbourne in 2015 by Makhampom's Artistic Director, Pongjit Saphakhun, and International Program Director, Richard Barber, with their daughter, actor Janita Barber. The Free Theatre practice has enhanced the Dialogue Theatre technique, coalescing into a program of actor and facilitator training, community cohesion and engagement projects, and dialogue in the public sphere. This work has been focussed on difficult conversations around racism, inter-generational conflict, and stigma and discrimination in the public sector.

Our Places

Dialogue Theatre in 2024-26

Dialogue Theatre Module

The Dialogue Theatre Module has been produced as a labour of love to extend global access to the technique globally by creating a comprehensive digital resource. 

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Train the Trainer

Free Theatre will host 6-day bi-annual Dialogue Theatre facilitator train-the-trainer courses at the Makhampom Art Space in northern Thailand from mid-2025. 

Details available in early 2025
Commissions, Workshops, Classes

Free Theatre will deliver tailored Dialogue Theatre commissions, classes, and workshops for public institutions, non-governmental organisations, educational institutions, and theatre companies. These commissions take 2 forms: Dialogue Theatre or Digital Dialogue running from a minimum of 4 days up to 3 months.

 

Dialogue Theatre commissions are for localised performances with identified audiences. Digital Dialogue commissions are suited to online the production of an online film resource for wide distribution and digital dialogue processes. â€‹

 

The Digital Dialogue approach is an extension of the Dialogue Theatre method, prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic constraints on live performance. This involves the translation of the Dialogue Theatre play into a screen play and Docu-Drama styled film. The Dialogue process is invoked through video interviews and a range of live and mediated online mechanisms.

 

Free Theatre can be engaged to facilitate a series of workshops and trainings. The Dialogue Theatre workshops can span a half-day Art of Dialogue process to a 2-day Introduction to Dialogue Theatre.

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Free Theatre also offers tailored workshops - the Games Toolkit, Acting for Non-Actors, and the Art of Peace. All workshops involve physical theatre techniques, improvisation, play and a culture of fun.

© 2024 by Free Theatre

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