Dialogue Theatre

Dialogue Theatre is an applied theatre technique that blends immersive theatre with conflict transformation practices to facilitate difficult conversations within communities and across society. The Dialogue Theatre program includes the Module (online course), train the trainer workshops, and Dialogue Theatre productions.

Dialogue Theatre Module - Online Course

A$99 full

A$49.50 conc. (student, First Nations, global South)

46
STEPS

39
EXERCISES

4
SERIES

7
PDF's

Purchase the Dialogue Theatre Module before June 31 for $50.

Participate in free bimonthly online dialogues (workshops and Q&As)

Dialogue Theatre Module
4 Participants
$99.00
Purchase Here

About The Module

The module is a comprehensive training in the Dialogue Theatre technique. There are 39 exercises in four series - Conflict Series, Character Series, Devising Series, and Dialogue Series. The module is presented in a step-by-step form, combining narrated description of the process, footage of a workshop process, facilitation tips, and the theoretical principles that guide each exercise.

The module has been developed and produced by Richard Barber, Pongjit Saphakhun, and Janita Barber. The workshop footage involves the following members of the Free Theatre ensemble - Gabriela Georges, Deng Deng, Lara Week, and Juan Camilo Riano, with the assistance of videographers, Moayad Alhabi and Diego Cifuentes, and web designers Ricardo Zorondo and Tania King. Content has also been drawn from a number of Makhampom and Free Theatre works, and the Dialogue Theatre team would like to acknowledge all who have assisted in producing this resource.

Dialogue Theatre derives from the multi-decade practice of Makhampom and Free Theatre. There have been numerous influences in the development of the form, most notably, Theatre of the Oppressed & Image Theatre and Lecoq's physical theatre, and Ilbijerri Theatre's toolkit. Dialogue Theatre is part of the exchange and adaptation within the world of applied and contemporary theatre and hopes this resource can offer another body of knowledge to this community.

Watch The First Exercise: Step 1 - Warmup

Key Features

Dialogue Theatre is an applied theatre technique.

Dialogue Theatre is an applied theatre technique.
It is designed to enable safe ways to facilitate difficult conversations.
It brings together immersive theatre and conflict transformation methodologies.
It is ideal for both actors and non-actors.
Dialogue Theatre unpacks conflicts and tensions by engaging audience and actor-characters in conversation.
It is the 3rd person nature of the characters that enable dialogue.
It is a two part form - the Play & the Dialogue.
It takes role play into the realm of workshopping positive change.
It is a form of advocacy through facilitated and mediated dialogue.
It is a creative means to unpack and understand conflict.
It adopts physical theatre play and improvisation as modes of enquiry.
It is a tool for advocacy.
It’s strength is in that it gives voice to the Other, the marginalised voices.
It promotes empathic transformation.
It is not about binaries, it’s about complexity

Applications

Dialogue Theatre is highly adaptable and effective in various settings:

In-house workshops
Community conversations and forums
Public advocacy events
Institutional and organisational development sessions
Actor training
Some of these settings have included:
First Nations theatre group
Multicultural woman’s group
South Sudanese Australian community volunteers
Melbourne Law Week events
Melbourne Fringe public performance
National Endowment for Democracy dialogue project
South Sudanese Australian mothers organisation
High school social development curriculum
African Australian youth mental health support group

Dialogue Themes

Used widely in Australia and Thailand, Dialogue Theatre has addressed issues including:

Censorship in repressive Asian states
Political polarisation in Thai society
Systemic racism in northern Thailand’s public health sector
Inter-generational cultural tensions in Thai families
Unconscious bias & institutionalised racism in local government
Discrimination in public services
Myths of multiculturalism
Sexual health in First Nations communities
Invisible racism in schools
Racism & youth justice in South Sudanese Australian communities
Inter-generational divisions and tensions in South Sudanese families
Mental health stigma

About Dialogue Theatre

Workshops & Commissions

In addition to the Dialogue Module, Free Theatre can be commissioned the facilitate Dialogue Theatre works or engaged to facilitate a series of workshops and trainings. Commissions can take the form of facilitated and directed Dialogue Theatre (stage) or Digital Dialogue (film) productions. Workshops/trainings can range from 2-hour to 1-day applied theatre sessions to a full Train the Trainer in Dialogue Theatre run over 4-6 days, including the annual Dialogue Theatre Camp in Thailand. The applied theatre workshops are tailored to the participants and include the following:

Creating Conflict Scenario by Image Theatre
Bringing Self to Character
Group Devising by Collective Storyboarding
Art of Dialogue: Improvising with Audiences
The Applied Games Toolkit
Acting Skills for Non-Actors

All workshops involve Free Theatre’s signature physical theatre techniques, improvisation, play-based process, and the culture of fun.

Dialogue Theatre Commissions (Stage or Digital)

(*Minimum 3-month lead-in, in Australia, Thailand, or International locations)

Commissioned projects to develop Dialogue Theatre productions for stage or film with an established or newly-formed team of actors or with the Free Theatre Ensemble. Free Theatre’s role includes: (i) facilitating the Dialogue Theatre 4-part process (Conflict Series, Character Series, Devising Series, Dialogue Series); (ii) artistic direction of the Play & Dialogue (as required); (iii) script or screenplay writing (as required); (iv) Free Theatre Ensemble performance (as required).

Applied Theatre Workshops

2 hours - 1 day

Options: (a) Creating Conflict Scenario by Image Theatre, (b) Bringing Self to Character, (c) Group Devising by Collective Storyboarding, (d) Art of Dialogue: Improvising with Audiences, (e) The Applied Games Toolkit, (f) Acting Skills for Non-Actors

Dialogue Theatre Camp

6-days, 2026 dates TBC, Makhampom Art Space, Chiang Dao, Thailand

An intensive 6-day Dialogue Theatre Train-the-Trainer for international participants, facilitated by Free Theatre & Makhampom at the Makhampom Art Space venue in northern Thailand. This immersive program will teach the full course of the Dialogue Theatre Module, together with new techniques. It will equip participants to apply Dialogue Theatre in their practices.

Enquire Here