CC:
Subj: [SCHECHNR@ACFcluster.NYU.EDU: Augusto Boal Needs Your Help Now!]
Original-Sender: ai182@slc12.INS.CWRU.Edu
X-List: artnet@uk.ac.mailbase
Precedence: list
================= Begin forwarded message =================
Subject: Augusto Boal Needs Your Help Now!
Date: Tue, 12 Oct
Dear Perform-L and Theatre Lists,
Yesterday, October 11, I received the following fax from Augusto Boal:
Rio de Janeiro 9 October 1993
Dear Friends,
We need your help, URGENTLY, VERY VERY URGENTLY!!!
As you know, Augusto Boal, after having created the Theatre of the Oppressed
[...], decided with his center of TO of Rio de Janeiro to research a new form of
theatre, the Legislative Theatre, democratizing politics through theatre. With
this platform he was elected "Vereador" (representative) in the Workers' Party
(PT) and since march has already formed 12 popular groups using theatre landless
peasants, childlren of the street, grade unions, students, religious groups,
etc.). The forum sessions done by those groups are helping Boal to prepare
projects of law [legislation] to be presented at the
Chamber [where Boal serves].
The enormous success of this work [...] is driving the reactionaries
mad. And we are being aggressed [against] from all over.
Three months ago, the Center directed by Boal signed a contract to
do 7 mini-frestivals with the groups that his mandate is creating in the popular
[working class and poor] quarters of Rio. Those mini-festivals were enormously
successful! The signature of this contract was officially revealed by Helena
Severo (the Secretary of Culture of the City [Rio]) and by Boal himself during
an official session at the Chamber of Vereadores in the presence of many
Vereadores. This was officially registered in the Journal of the Chamber. All
veradores accepted this [contract] as being legal, good, and normal. No one
protested. Last Monday, a newspaper, notoriously anti-PT, started a campaign
against Boal, claiming that the contract was against the law, that he as Verador
could not sign that contract. Our lawyers insist that it is perfectly legal,
because it was the CTO {Center of the Theatre of the Oppressed) who signed it,
not Boal himself.
Since last Monday and until today, Saturday [9 October]--the same
newspaper publishes headlines on the front page [...]. Every day they
publish the photo of Boal and Helena Severol under the title, "The Secretary and
the Vereador: Dangerous Relations" (Les Liaisons Dangereuse) making all sorts of
insinuations and hideous comments. They don't question the honesty of the
contract but its legality.
Now three months after signing the contract, after realizing the
mini-fesitivals (we did 12 instead of 7), and after having been fully informed
of it [the contract, the festivals] by Boal and Helena Severo, during an
official session at the Chambger, some vereadores decided to ask the Chamber to
oust Boal, [...] thus making impossible his work on the Legislative Theatre.
Probably next Wednesday or Thursdayt [13 or 14 October], the Chamber
will decide. WE NEED YOUR HELP. Many Brazilian popular organizations have
already sent us telegrams and letters supporting Boal, many Brazilian
personalities have done the same, including the Cardinal of Sao Paulo and other
religious persons, popular singers and sportsmen, politicians, scientists,
professors, etc. Now we need international support.
Please, send VERY URGENTLY, right now, if possible, a telegram
[or fax] of solidarity to:
Augusto Boal
Rua Fraqncisco Otaviano 185
apt 41
Ipanema, Arpoador
Rio de Janeiro 22 080 040
Or fax him: 005521-267-1869
Tell him vividly what you think of his work and whatever else you
want to say.
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY IS VERY IMPORTANT, IS VITAL!!! AND
URGENT!!!
Please contact other people and other organizations [...] explaining
to them the situation and askiung them to send telegrams or faxes. [...]
We sincerely thank you and we are certain that with your help
Augusto Boal will continue to be Vereador and will continue to work with us on
our project, the Legistlative Theatre.
[Signed}
CENTRO DO TEATRO DO OPRIMIDO DO RIO DE JANEIRO Teatro Glauce Rocha
Avenida Rio Branco 179
Centreo
Rio de Janeiro R.J.
Brasil
Ok, There is the letter.
I support the appeal to support Boal. I hope that many of you will fax him at
once. The vote is tomorrow or thursday. Mail is too slow. Pass the message one.
Richard Schechner