Promoting Tolerance and Dialogue through Interactive Theater in Eastern Indonesia

The Promoting Tolerance and Dialogue through Interactive Theater in Eastern Indonesia project brought youth from conflict and post-conflict areas in Eastern Indonesia into productive dialogue for conflict prevention through the use of interactive theater, and to build local capacity for ongoing conflict prevention and mitigation.

The one-year program was funded by Great Britain’s Strategic Program Fund and implemented by IREX Europe, IREX, and the Center for Civic Education Indonesia (CCEI).

This project is now closed.

Goals

Build local capacity for ongoing conflict prevention and mitigation through the following:

• Train teachers and theater specialists to use interactive theater techniques with youth to prevent and mitigate conflict, address extremism and fight ethnic and religious intolerance.
• Engage youth in dialogue about conflict, extremism and intolerance using interactive theater techniques to reduce the influence of extremist groups.

Background

Indonesia has been scarred by sectarian conflict over the past decade, while extremist dialogue continues to lead youth in areas toward violence and radicalism. The program targeted four areas of Eastern Indonesia that have experienced significant conflict: Ambon, Lombok, Pasuruan, and Poso in Central Sulawesi.

Project Activities

Interactive theater, incorporating local cultural traditions, starts with simple theater games that break the ice and encourage imagination and play. Once trust is established within the group, the methodology is used to share personal stories about conflict. Participants then develop short plays about real-life conflict issues and perform them in their communities, engaging the audience to be part of the performance and contribute to the resolution. A discussion follows the performance, encouraging dialogue on conflict issues and bringing divided groups into contact.

Interactive Theater Training and Summer Camps: Adults and youth were selected to receive training in interactive theater, developing Forum Theater plays about real conflict issues they face and preparing to perform and engage audiences in diverse communities.

Micro Grants: Grants supported post-camp projects, including joint performances uniting actors from two divided towns, a theater festival, and drama workshops for street children.