"This manual offers both practical and theoretical insights into the methodology of the Forum Theatre. It is offered as a resource for youth workers wishing to use the methodology to engage young people towards positive social change. The different chapters offer guidance on how to design a Forum Theatre process that remains true to its core values. There is a special focus on theatre work in the context of Peacebuilding. Most of the methods selected draw on the experiences of the GIZ Civil Peace Service’s youth project “Theatre for Change,” which was implemented by the Creativity Club in Al-Karak, Jordan.
Chapter one outlines the background of the Forum Theatre approach and the philosophy which underpins it and explores the linkages between the values and perspectives of practitioners from the spheres of Theatre and Peacebuilding. Chapter two explains the steps of a Forum Theatre dialogue in more detail and explores the practical aspects of starting a Forum Theatre group. The “Theatre for Change” project is presented as an example from Jordan in a separate section. Chapter three gives practical recommendations for exercises that can be used in a Forum Theatre group, based on experiences from the “Theatre for Change” project in Jordan. The exercises presented cover every aspect of the overall process from warming up to developing the play and post-performances process." (Introduction, page 6)