School Programming

Overview

Mixed Company Theatre has been inspiring students to create social change for over 20 years through Forum Theatre. An UNESCO-recognized educational tool, Forum Theatre is a participatory style of theatre known for its effectiveness in helping students tackle issues that directly affect them. Students have the opportunity in a Forum Theatre presentation to “rehearse for reality” and try out their own solutions for positive change.

Our school productions and workshops have examined difficult social issues such as mental health stigma and support, healthy relationships and consent, and inclusion and equity.

In true Theatre of the Oppressed fashion, we constantly consult with educators and the Ontario curriculum in developing our shows, which means that you can rest easy knowing that your Mixed Company program has been thoughtfully tailored to the needs and developmental level of your learners.

A part of the current drama curriculum for Ontario schools, Forum Theatre productions have often been used as an educational tool to support requirements in other areas, including Language Arts, Health and Physical Education, and Social and Family Studies.

Our 2023-24 Programming

This year we have two different program formats that we are offering for schools, which are completely customizable. Click the headings below to learn more about these programming options.

75-90 mins | Max 350 students | Grades 5+

Our scenario based Lighting Forum Theatre Presentations give you the opportunity to choose from a range of issues while maintaining the engaging, participatory style of a Forum Theatre show.

In these presentations, a story representing an issue is performed (the first act) by actors. Students are then invited onto the stage by a trained facilitator to enact “an intervention” where they can either replace a character or suggest a change to the story for the better. A trained Forum Theatre facilitator (the Joker) prepares and encourages participants to replace the actors on the stage and to change the story in a constructive way.

Students get most of the presentation time to replace characters and act out their own solutions – it is a high-impact and highly engaging platform for dialogue and discussion in a very safe and collaborative environment.

This year we are offering completely customizable Lightning Forum Presentations, tailored to meet your goals and learning objectives.

1 Class Period | Max 30 students | Grades 4+

Our classroom workshops based in Forum Theatre methodology give students the opportunity to explore complex social issues in a safe, facilitated environment that encourages creative problem-solving. Accordingly, our workshops are customizable to the issues that are most relevant to your classroom and are compatible with a wide variety of social justice, equity, civics, and arts-related curriculum content.

In these workshops, students experience a blend of fun group games, critical discussion, and participatory theatre exercises in order to unpack, discuss, and find actionable solutions to the chosen topic.

Sample Topics

Bullying/Cyber Bullying
Mental Health
Consent
Homophobia and Transphobia
Sexual Assault and Harassment
Substance Misuse
Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity
Healthy Living
Gang Violence
Peer Pressure
Civic Engagement
Environmentalism
And much more!

Click the button below to access our full school programming brochure for 2023-24:

School Programming Brochure

Learning Outcomes

Develop tools for navigating sensitive social issues of equity.
Learn to view problems from multiple perspectives and increase empathy for others.
Explore different forms of communication and creative problem-solving.
Generate passion for the arts, civic engagement, social justice and equity.

For more information on how our programming connects to the Ontario Curriculum and how to integrate our programming in your lessons, check out our Teacher Resources page.

Booking Information

To inquire about booking a program, email our communications team:

Send Booking Inquiry