The Rainbow of Desire: The Boal Method of Theatre and Therapy (Paperback)

~ (Author) "There is the first human invention and also the invention which paves the way for all other inventions and discoveries..." (more)
Key Phrases: Theatre of the Oppressed, Forum Theatre, Rio de Janeiro (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The Rainbow of Desire is Augusto Boal's bold and brilliant statement about the therapeutic ability of theatre to liberate individuals and change lives. Now translated into English and fully and comprehensively updated from the French, this books sets out the techniques which help us ``see'' for the first time the oppressions we have internalized.

Boal, a Brazilian theatre director, writer and politician, has been confronting oppression in various forms for over thirty years. His belief that theatre is a means to create the future rather than passively wait for it has inspired hundreds of groups from all over the world to use his techniques in a multitude of settings. This, his latest work, includes such exercises as: The cops in the Head and Their Anti-Bodies, The Screen-Image, The Image of the Future we are Afraid of and Image and Counter-Image.

Language Notes

Text: English
Original Language: French

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Routledge (January 18, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415103495
• ISBN-13: 978-0415103497
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #249,958 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A Transformational View of Theatre and Psychotherapy, October 18, 2009

By	Douglas L. Paterson (Great Plains) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

While it is true that some of his work truly needs participation in workshops to understand, the entirety of the late Augusto Boal's vision and practice remains the most revolutionary and transformational of at least the last fifty years, if not many more. His use of Image Theatre brings a profound physicality to psychotherapeutic techniques, one which brings the whole person into a therapy process. Moreover, the approach also asks for extensive collaboraton while at the same time not putting the subject in an overly-vulnerable situation. To the contrary, the group becomes a co-creator and support network while the imaging and dialogue proceed. Boal's final exploration into linking Rainbow to Forum Theatre promises an even broader expansion of TO possibilities. The book will likely become a theatre classic, along with Boal's other texts, equaling the influence of Brecht and Stanislavsky, and perhaps even Aristotle. I urge readers who are genuinely taken by Boal's writings to find workshops led by experienced practitioners. See the PTO website for one site of possible assistance: [...]

13 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring ideas for a theatre of therapy., April 8, 1999

By A Customer

If you enjoy theatre theories, The Rainbow of Desire is a mentally stimulating read. If you believe that theatre has the power to change lives, it is an inspiration. As a young actor/director myself working in educational theatre, Boal's techniques are an exciting departure from standard improv "games," though not having read Boal's previous books made some of the activities described sound a bit confusing. Currently I am in the process of applying these ideas in the creation of an outreach piece, ask me in a few weeks how well it worked.