As part of Artangel's Inner City commissions, Brazilian artist, writer and social explorer Augusto Boal will investigate the art of legislation with a group of participants active in the worlds of transport, housing and education drawn from across London. These groups will present short vignettes bringing to life a range of experiences and proposals, developed with Boal during the preceding week.
From 1993-1996, Boal served as an elected Vereador (Legislator) in Rio de Janiero city council. During this time, he created a means by which community groups and political movements could be involved in the creation and implementation of legislation in the city. His work is documented in the recently-published book Legislative Theatre and the event at County Hall represents an opportunity to participate in Boal's very distinctive brand of direct democracy.
The evening will be introduced by broadcaster Tariq Ali and writer Lisa Jardine. Mark Stephens, of Stephens Innocent, will act as legal expert in the drafting of legislation, resulting from a theatrical debate focusing on three major areas affecting London : Housing, Transport and education and all their ramifications.
Online, the debate has already begun and we invite you to log onto our listserv (contact via the website http://www.innercity.demon.co.uk ) and join na international community of viewpoints in the run-up to the event: important contributions that will help to shape what happens at County Hall on the night. So even if you can't make it on 27 November, please participate in this way and ensure that your voice is heard.
If you'd like to take your place at County Hall, we need confirmation no later than Monday 23 November . Tickets are £10.00 (£8.00 concessions). Please mention this letter when calling us on 0171 729 7879 to confirm.
"I solemnly dedicate this Session to Thespis, who invented theatre six centuries before Jesus Christ", says Boal, "and I crave protection from two Gods - also Greek - Dyonisos, who invented Joy and Happiness, and Apollon, inventor of Order and Beauty. I assume, in the name of all participants and in my own name, the responsibility of interpreting faithfully the Will and Desire of the people of London,as expressed by the public present at this Session. The promulgation of these laws will, of course, be merely symbolic. But without symbols, what would become of civilization?"
Kind regards, Michael Morris Co-Director
Artangel 36 St. John's Lane London EC1M 4BJ England tel + 44 171 336 6801 fax + 44 171 336 6802 Artangel info-line + 44 171 336 6803 Artangel box-office 10 am - 2 pm weekdays + 44 171 729 7879 The Times / Artangel Open info-line +44 171 490 0226 Artangel website: http://www.ecna.org/artangel
Das neue Buch von Augusto Boal in englisch: legislative theatre bei routledge