Legislative Theater

In legislative theater, communities, advocates and policymakers work together, to identify, develop, and build support for new legislation. Through interactive theater productions, community members explore and act out solutions to situations of oppression, then work with officials to translate these solutions into new laws. Originating in Brazil in 1992, legislative theater has been used around the world to develop creative solutions for issues such as housing access, climate justice and workers’ rights.

 

Plan your legislative theater process

WATCH an original play based on community members’ lived experiences and problems.

ACT on stage to intervene in the play and test ways to address the problems presented.

PROPOSE policy changes to address the problems, and deliberate together with policymakers.

VOTE on the policy proposals that emerge from the plays, and make collective commitments to action.

Legislative Theater in Action

We say it a lot but this really is doing things differently. Challenge, creativity, comedy: all in the name of policy making.



- Molly Bishop, strategic lead for homelessness, Greater Manchester Combined Authority

The policy discussion in city hall can sometimes become abstract, and it’s so important to connect what we discuss in the abstract to the real. An important part of legislative theater performance is to demonstrate that there are consequences to the laws we pass, and how they affect people’s lives.



- Steve Levin, New York City Council member

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Sample Playbook

 

Review key design questions that you will need to answer to plan a legislative theater program, and sample answers to these questions. To create a plan that works for your situation, start your own legislative theater playbook. The playbook will walk you through the most important questions to answer when designing a process. Each step of the way, we will share recommended options and information to help you decide. At the end, you will have a plan for your process.

 

Plan your legislative theater process

Taking Legislative Theater Online

Legislative theater processes may take place partly or completely online, harnessing digital tools to engage people who may not have the ability to participate in person in planning or acting in a play, designing policy solutions, and more. The Playbook can help you to determine whether digital participation is right for your situation, and to ensure that you’re engaging people online in a meaningful, accessible and inclusive way.

 

Explore digital participation