From the Stage to Social Change: Exploring Forum Theatre for Inclusive Youth Work in Târgoviște, Romania

Blog Written by Dawson Camilleri.

From the 25th of May to the 30th of May 2025, I had the opportunity to participate in ACT Together as part of an Erasmus+ training course. This was more than just a cultural exchange — it was a transformative journey into the power of theatre as a catalyst for inclusion, empathy, and youth empowerment. Hosted in a city steeped in history and charm, this project brought together youth workers and participants from across Europe to explore Forum Theatre as a dynamic method of non-formal education and social change.

Rooted in Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed, Forum Theatre invites audiences to step directly into the performance, replacing characters and testing alternative solutions to the issues being portrayed. Over the course of the week, we engaged in daily workshops that challenged us to co-create scenes inspired by real-life experiences of discrimination, exclusion, and inequality — situations that young people in our communities continue to face today.

The process was both emotionally intense and incredibly enriching. Working in multicultural teams, we navigated language differences, cultural norms, and diverse perspectives through movement, emotion, and collective storytelling. It quickly became clear that theatre could speak where words failed. The energy in the room shifted each time someone stepped into a scene to rewrite its outcome — a moment of empowerment, reflection, and solidarity.

As the days progressed, what began as a group of strangers evolved into a tightly connected community. The shared experience of vulnerability and creative expression created bonds that transcended borders. Târgoviște itself played a key role in this journey — not just as a location, but as a quiet witness to our growth, connection, and reflection.

This Erasmus+ experience was a powerful reminder of the potential of non-formal education in youth work. Forum Theatre proved to be more than just a technique; it became a tool for empathy-building, dialogue, and active participation. It allowed us to reimagine challenges — not as fixed realities, but as opportunities for change led by those most affected.

I would like to thank TDM 2000 Malta and BEYOU for the space to grow and oppotunity to learn, connect and share ideas.

For anyone passionate about inclusive youth work and creative approaches to empowerment, Forum Theatre is a method worth exploring — and Erasmus+ remains a powerful platform to do just that.