EVENTS
THEATRE OF THE OPPRESSED & TELE'DRAMA – ONLINE AND HYBRID APPLICATIONS | 3RD ANNUAL TELE’DRAMA COMMUNITY FESTIVAL 2026
DATES:
Saturday & Sunday, February 21-22, 2026
TIME:
09:30 AM – 02:00 PM Central Time (United States)
04:30 PM – 09:00 PM Central European Time (CET)
00:30 PM – 05:00 AM (next day) (Korea/Japan)
For any inquiries, please email us at zoomroom.international@teledrama.org DURATION: 2-Day Weekend Program LANGUAGE: English; Translated Captions Available COST: Professionals & General Public
Single session (1) $30
One day (4 sessions) $90
Full event (8 sessions) $150
Students & Retirees
Single session (1) $20
One day (4 sessions) $60
Full event (8 sessions) $100
04:30 PM – 09:00 PM Central European Time (CET)
00:30 PM – 05:00 AM (next day) (Korea/Japan)
- 4 Sessions per Day, 60 Minutes Each
- 8 Hours Total of Real-Time Experience in Action
For any inquiries, please email us at zoomroom.international@teledrama.org DURATION: 2-Day Weekend Program LANGUAGE: English; Translated Captions Available COST: Professionals & General Public
Single session (1) $30
One day (4 sessions) $90
Full event (8 sessions) $150
Students & Retirees
Single session (1) $20
One day (4 sessions) $60
Full event (8 sessions) $100
THEATRE OF THE OPPRESSED & TELE'DRAMA
An International Festival for Awareness, Connection, and Non-Violent Change
Inspired by Augusto Boal & J. L. Moreno
Presented through Tele'Drama’s innovative virtual and hybrid spaces
Theatre of the Oppressed (TO) is a participatory theatre methodology developed by Augusto Boal in the 1970s as a tool for social change, empowerment, and dialogue. Rooted in Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed, TO transforms traditional theatre into an interactive and dynamic space where spectators become "spect-actors," actively engaging in the performance to explore and rehearse real-life struggles.
THEATRE OF THE OPPRESSED CONSISTS OF VARIOUS BRANCHES, INCLUDING:
Image Theatre – A methodology where participants use frozen and fluid body images to express emotions, relationships, or social situations.
Forum Theatre – A short performance depicting a situation of oppression, which is then replayed with the audience ("spect-actors") stepping in to change the outcome through interventions.
Rainbow of Desire – A set of therapeutic TO techniques focusing on internalized oppression, allowing individuals to explore conflicts, desires, and emotions using theatrical techniques.
Invisible Theatre – A performance staged in public spaces where the audience does not realize it is theatre. It is designed to provoke dialogue and social change in real-world settings.
Newspaper Theatre – A method for transforming news articles or media content into interactive performances, analyzing bias and encouraging critical reflection on mass communication.
Legislative Theatre – A technique used to influence laws and policies, where performances highlight real social issues, and audience participation leads to policy proposals and legislative action.
Analytical Theatre – A structured approach to breaking down social and political issues, using theatre to critically examine power structures and the role of oppression.
Breaking Repression – Exercises and performances that help participants identify and challenge personal or societal oppression, allowing for collective problem-solving.
Photo Romance – A technique that combines visual storytelling with theatre, using staged images and narratives to explore social issues and encourage dialogue.
Rituals and Masks – A theatrical approach that examines ritualized behaviors, cultural norms, and identity formation, using masks and symbolic actions to reflect on social conditioning.
About the Festival
The 3rd Annual Tele’Drama Community Festival 2026 will showcase an innovative integration of Tele’Drama Methodology for Theatre of the Oppressed Applications in Virtual and Hybrid Spaces, offering a unique experience.
This festival will offer a comprehensive and experiential exploration of the branches of Theatre of the Oppressed, showcasing how these techniques can be adapted for virtual and hybrid spaces to foster global participation and collaboration. Through interactive sessions and live demonstrations, participants will experience how digital tools and hybrid environments can expand the accessibility and impact of Theatre of the Oppressed while preserving its essence of social transformation, creativity, and participatory engagement.
TELE’DRAMA CERTIFICATION LEVELS ABBREVIATIONS:
Methodology Consultant:
Daniela Simmons, PhD; American Board Certified Trainer, Educator, Practitioner (TEP),
Supervisor in Psychodrama, Sociometry and Group Psychotherapy
Trainer and supervisor of the Theatre of the Oppressed methodology and its bridging with Morenian Action Methods in physical, online, and hybrid spaces.
Creator, TELE'DRAMA®
Founder & CEO of TELE'DRAMA International
DAY 1: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2026
Session # 01: Saturday, February 21, 2026 | Online Real-Time Experience
09:30 AM – 10:30 AM Central Time (United States)
04:30 PM – 05:30 PM Central European Time (CET)
00:30 AM – 01:30 AM (next day) (Korea/Japan)
Presenters: Samuel Yie, BP3, CP, CTT (South Korea); Ichiro (Okkady) Okajima, M.A., CTP-3 (Japan)
Title: Images of the Unspoken: Sculpting Awareness Through Image Theatre
Description: Participants use frozen and fluid body images to express emotions, relationships, and social situations. Through Image Theatre and psychodramatic embodiment, this session opens a collective journey of awareness, inviting participants to “see” the invisible and transform it into shared understanding
__________
Session # 02: Saturday, February 21, 2026 | Online Real-Time Experience
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Central Time (United States)
05:30 PM – 06:30 PM Central European Time (CET)
01:30 AM – 02:30 AM (next day) (Korea/Japan)
Presenters: Daniela Tahirova, MEd, MPsy, CTT; Maya Maria Koleva, CTP-3; Desislava Klochkova, CTP-3; Eleonora Encheva, CTP-3; Zhaneta Nikolova, CTP-3 - Tele’Drama Bulgaria Regional Institute
Title: Voices Intervene: From Spectator to Spect-Actor
Description: A Forum Theatre–Psychodrama fusion where a scene of oppression is enacted, then replayed with audience members stepping in to propose and test new actions. In the virtual and hybrid environment, spect-actors become co-creators of change, rehearsing empowerment across screens and spaces.
__________
Session # 03: Saturday, February 21, 2026 | Online Real-Time Experience
12:00 PM – 01:00 PM Central Time (United States)
07:00 PM – 08:00 PM Central European Time (CET)
03:00 AM – 04:00 AM (next day) (Korea/Japan)
Presenters: Colleen Baratka, MA TEP, CTP-3 (United States); Jaye Moyer, LCSW, TEP, CTP-2 (United States); Cristina Hockl, CTP-2 (Germany)
Title: The Rainbow Within: Healing Internalized Oppression
Description: Based on Boal’s Rainbow of Desire and Moreno’s role theory, participants explore internal conflicts, desires, and emotions shaped by societal expectations. The hybrid methodology enables deep reflection and shared witnessing, fostering personal liberation within a collective container.
__________
Session # 04: Saturday, February 21, 2026 | Online Real-Time Experience
01:00 PM – 02:00 PM Central Time (United States)
08:00 PM – 09:00 PM Central European Time (CET)
04:00 AM – 05:00 AM (next day) (Korea/Japan)
Presenters: Erica Hollander, JD, PhD, TEP, CTP-3 (United States); Nancy S. Scherlong, LCSW, PTR, CJT, M/S, CTP-3 (United States); Angeliki Lefa, CTP-2 (Greece)
Title: Breaking Repression: From Freeze to Flow
Description: Through movement, rhythm, and group improvisation, participants identify and release inner and social repression. Action unfolds simultaneously in physical rooms and online environments, revealing how energy, spontaneity, and courage can cross digital borders and unite communities in transformation.
************************************************************************************************************************
DAY #2: SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2026
Session # 05: Saturday, February 21, 2026 | Online Real-Time Experience
09:30 AM – 10:30 AM Central Time (United States)
04:30 PM – 05:30 PM Central European Time (CET)
00:30 AM – 01:30 AM (next day) (Korea/Japan)
Presenters: Gülşen Büyükşahin, MA, CTP-3 (United States); Pembegül İlter, CTP-3 (Türkiye); Müjdegül Karaca, PhD, MD, CTP-3 (Türkiye) - Tele’Drama Türkiye Regional Institute
Title: Photo Romance: Frames of Reality and Hope
Description: A creative synthesis of visual storytelling and theatre. Participants co-create photo sequences that reflect social realities and aspirations for justice. In this hybrid medium, images come alive through dialogue, connecting people worldwide in shared reflection and artistic activism.
__________
Session # 06: Saturday, February 21, 2026 | Online Real-Time Experience
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Central Time (United States)
05:30 PM – 06:30 PM Central European Time (CET)
01:30 AM – 02:30 AM (next day) (Korea/Japan)
Presenters: Mirjana Stankovic, CTP-3 (Serbia); Svetlana Iloski, CTP-3 (North Macedonia); Mina Zivkovic, CTP-3 (Serbia); Anna Kononenko, CTP-2 (Serbia); Tele’Drama Serbia & Region Institute
Title: Faces We Wear: Rituals, Masks, and the Freedom to Be
Description: Exploring the roles and identities shaped by culture, gender, and power, this session uses masks and symbolic action to uncover authenticity. Participants experience how ritual and role-reversal can transcend distance, merging physical and digital presence into a unified field of expression.
__________
Session # 07: Saturday, February 21, 2026 | Online Real-Time Experience
12:00 PM – 01:00 PM Central Time (United States)
07:00 PM – 08:00 PM Central European Time (CET)
03:00 AM – 04:00 AM (next day) (Korea/Japan)
Presenters: Betty G Garrison, BFA, IPNB, MA, CTP-3 (United States); Lyudmila Zlatova, PhD, CTP-3 (Czech Republic); Nadia Naeem, PhDc, CTP-2 (Pakistan)
Title: Rewriting the Headlines: The Power of Newspaper Theatre
Description: News articles and media stories are transformed into interactive performances that challenge bias and invite critical thinking. Participants collaborate across continents to analyze information and re-imagine narratives — turning global headlines into a theatre of truth and possibility.
__________
Session # 08: Saturday, February 21, 2026 | Online Real-Time Experience
01:00 PM – 02:00 PM Central Time (United States)
08:00 PM – 09:00 PM Central European Time (CET)
04:00 AM – 05:00 AM (next day) (Korea/Japan)
Presenters: Bojana Glusac Draslar, CTT (Serbia); Tanja L. Lee, PhD, RDT, SP, CTP-2 (United States); Andrea Wilches, SP, CTT (Colombia / Argentina);
Title: Invisible, Yet Seen: Theatre in the Streets and Screens
Description: This closing experience reimagines Invisible Theatre for the digital era — subtle interventions staged in online and hybrid public spaces where observers may not realize they are part of a performance. It invites dialogue, empathy, and reflection — a living reminder that awareness itself is an act of change, and violence is never the answer.
Additional Notes:
An International Festival for Awareness, Connection, and Non-Violent Change
Inspired by Augusto Boal & J. L. Moreno
Presented through Tele'Drama’s innovative virtual and hybrid spaces
Theatre of the Oppressed (TO) is a participatory theatre methodology developed by Augusto Boal in the 1970s as a tool for social change, empowerment, and dialogue. Rooted in Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed, TO transforms traditional theatre into an interactive and dynamic space where spectators become "spect-actors," actively engaging in the performance to explore and rehearse real-life struggles.
THEATRE OF THE OPPRESSED CONSISTS OF VARIOUS BRANCHES, INCLUDING:
Image Theatre – A methodology where participants use frozen and fluid body images to express emotions, relationships, or social situations.
Forum Theatre – A short performance depicting a situation of oppression, which is then replayed with the audience ("spect-actors") stepping in to change the outcome through interventions.
Rainbow of Desire – A set of therapeutic TO techniques focusing on internalized oppression, allowing individuals to explore conflicts, desires, and emotions using theatrical techniques.
Invisible Theatre – A performance staged in public spaces where the audience does not realize it is theatre. It is designed to provoke dialogue and social change in real-world settings.
Newspaper Theatre – A method for transforming news articles or media content into interactive performances, analyzing bias and encouraging critical reflection on mass communication.
Legislative Theatre – A technique used to influence laws and policies, where performances highlight real social issues, and audience participation leads to policy proposals and legislative action.
Analytical Theatre – A structured approach to breaking down social and political issues, using theatre to critically examine power structures and the role of oppression.
Breaking Repression – Exercises and performances that help participants identify and challenge personal or societal oppression, allowing for collective problem-solving.
Photo Romance – A technique that combines visual storytelling with theatre, using staged images and narratives to explore social issues and encourage dialogue.
Rituals and Masks – A theatrical approach that examines ritualized behaviors, cultural norms, and identity formation, using masks and symbolic actions to reflect on social conditioning.
About the Festival
The 3rd Annual Tele’Drama Community Festival 2026 will showcase an innovative integration of Tele’Drama Methodology for Theatre of the Oppressed Applications in Virtual and Hybrid Spaces, offering a unique experience.
This festival will offer a comprehensive and experiential exploration of the branches of Theatre of the Oppressed, showcasing how these techniques can be adapted for virtual and hybrid spaces to foster global participation and collaboration. Through interactive sessions and live demonstrations, participants will experience how digital tools and hybrid environments can expand the accessibility and impact of Theatre of the Oppressed while preserving its essence of social transformation, creativity, and participatory engagement.
TELE’DRAMA CERTIFICATION LEVELS ABBREVIATIONS:
- CTP-1: Certified Tele'Drama Practitioner Level 1
- CTP-2: Certified Tele'Drama Practitioner Level 2
- CTP-3: Certified Tele'Drama Practitioner Level 3
- CTT: Certified Tele'Drama Trainer
Methodology Consultant:
Daniela Simmons, PhD; American Board Certified Trainer, Educator, Practitioner (TEP),
Supervisor in Psychodrama, Sociometry and Group Psychotherapy
Trainer and supervisor of the Theatre of the Oppressed methodology and its bridging with Morenian Action Methods in physical, online, and hybrid spaces.
Creator, TELE'DRAMA®
Founder & CEO of TELE'DRAMA International
DAY 1: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2026
Session # 01: Saturday, February 21, 2026 | Online Real-Time Experience
09:30 AM – 10:30 AM Central Time (United States)
04:30 PM – 05:30 PM Central European Time (CET)
00:30 AM – 01:30 AM (next day) (Korea/Japan)
Presenters: Samuel Yie, BP3, CP, CTT (South Korea); Ichiro (Okkady) Okajima, M.A., CTP-3 (Japan)
Title: Images of the Unspoken: Sculpting Awareness Through Image Theatre
Description: Participants use frozen and fluid body images to express emotions, relationships, and social situations. Through Image Theatre and psychodramatic embodiment, this session opens a collective journey of awareness, inviting participants to “see” the invisible and transform it into shared understanding
__________
Session # 02: Saturday, February 21, 2026 | Online Real-Time Experience
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Central Time (United States)
05:30 PM – 06:30 PM Central European Time (CET)
01:30 AM – 02:30 AM (next day) (Korea/Japan)
Presenters: Daniela Tahirova, MEd, MPsy, CTT; Maya Maria Koleva, CTP-3; Desislava Klochkova, CTP-3; Eleonora Encheva, CTP-3; Zhaneta Nikolova, CTP-3 - Tele’Drama Bulgaria Regional Institute
Title: Voices Intervene: From Spectator to Spect-Actor
Description: A Forum Theatre–Psychodrama fusion where a scene of oppression is enacted, then replayed with audience members stepping in to propose and test new actions. In the virtual and hybrid environment, spect-actors become co-creators of change, rehearsing empowerment across screens and spaces.
__________
Session # 03: Saturday, February 21, 2026 | Online Real-Time Experience
12:00 PM – 01:00 PM Central Time (United States)
07:00 PM – 08:00 PM Central European Time (CET)
03:00 AM – 04:00 AM (next day) (Korea/Japan)
Presenters: Colleen Baratka, MA TEP, CTP-3 (United States); Jaye Moyer, LCSW, TEP, CTP-2 (United States); Cristina Hockl, CTP-2 (Germany)
Title: The Rainbow Within: Healing Internalized Oppression
Description: Based on Boal’s Rainbow of Desire and Moreno’s role theory, participants explore internal conflicts, desires, and emotions shaped by societal expectations. The hybrid methodology enables deep reflection and shared witnessing, fostering personal liberation within a collective container.
__________
Session # 04: Saturday, February 21, 2026 | Online Real-Time Experience
01:00 PM – 02:00 PM Central Time (United States)
08:00 PM – 09:00 PM Central European Time (CET)
04:00 AM – 05:00 AM (next day) (Korea/Japan)
Presenters: Erica Hollander, JD, PhD, TEP, CTP-3 (United States); Nancy S. Scherlong, LCSW, PTR, CJT, M/S, CTP-3 (United States); Angeliki Lefa, CTP-2 (Greece)
Title: Breaking Repression: From Freeze to Flow
Description: Through movement, rhythm, and group improvisation, participants identify and release inner and social repression. Action unfolds simultaneously in physical rooms and online environments, revealing how energy, spontaneity, and courage can cross digital borders and unite communities in transformation.
************************************************************************************************************************
DAY #2: SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2026
Session # 05: Saturday, February 21, 2026 | Online Real-Time Experience
09:30 AM – 10:30 AM Central Time (United States)
04:30 PM – 05:30 PM Central European Time (CET)
00:30 AM – 01:30 AM (next day) (Korea/Japan)
Presenters: Gülşen Büyükşahin, MA, CTP-3 (United States); Pembegül İlter, CTP-3 (Türkiye); Müjdegül Karaca, PhD, MD, CTP-3 (Türkiye) - Tele’Drama Türkiye Regional Institute
Title: Photo Romance: Frames of Reality and Hope
Description: A creative synthesis of visual storytelling and theatre. Participants co-create photo sequences that reflect social realities and aspirations for justice. In this hybrid medium, images come alive through dialogue, connecting people worldwide in shared reflection and artistic activism.
__________
Session # 06: Saturday, February 21, 2026 | Online Real-Time Experience
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Central Time (United States)
05:30 PM – 06:30 PM Central European Time (CET)
01:30 AM – 02:30 AM (next day) (Korea/Japan)
Presenters: Mirjana Stankovic, CTP-3 (Serbia); Svetlana Iloski, CTP-3 (North Macedonia); Mina Zivkovic, CTP-3 (Serbia); Anna Kononenko, CTP-2 (Serbia); Tele’Drama Serbia & Region Institute
Title: Faces We Wear: Rituals, Masks, and the Freedom to Be
Description: Exploring the roles and identities shaped by culture, gender, and power, this session uses masks and symbolic action to uncover authenticity. Participants experience how ritual and role-reversal can transcend distance, merging physical and digital presence into a unified field of expression.
__________
Session # 07: Saturday, February 21, 2026 | Online Real-Time Experience
12:00 PM – 01:00 PM Central Time (United States)
07:00 PM – 08:00 PM Central European Time (CET)
03:00 AM – 04:00 AM (next day) (Korea/Japan)
Presenters: Betty G Garrison, BFA, IPNB, MA, CTP-3 (United States); Lyudmila Zlatova, PhD, CTP-3 (Czech Republic); Nadia Naeem, PhDc, CTP-2 (Pakistan)
Title: Rewriting the Headlines: The Power of Newspaper Theatre
Description: News articles and media stories are transformed into interactive performances that challenge bias and invite critical thinking. Participants collaborate across continents to analyze information and re-imagine narratives — turning global headlines into a theatre of truth and possibility.
__________
Session # 08: Saturday, February 21, 2026 | Online Real-Time Experience
01:00 PM – 02:00 PM Central Time (United States)
08:00 PM – 09:00 PM Central European Time (CET)
04:00 AM – 05:00 AM (next day) (Korea/Japan)
Presenters: Bojana Glusac Draslar, CTT (Serbia); Tanja L. Lee, PhD, RDT, SP, CTP-2 (United States); Andrea Wilches, SP, CTT (Colombia / Argentina);
Title: Invisible, Yet Seen: Theatre in the Streets and Screens
Description: This closing experience reimagines Invisible Theatre for the digital era — subtle interventions staged in online and hybrid public spaces where observers may not realize they are part of a performance. It invites dialogue, empathy, and reflection — a living reminder that awareness itself is an act of change, and violence is never the answer.
Additional Notes:
- All sessions are 60 minutes and held in real time via Zoom.
- Participants may attend all sessions or select specific ones based on their interests.
- Certificates of participation will be provided upon request.
For partial scholarship opportunities contact zoomroom.international@teledrama.org
or submit here
