Toronto Street Theatre Group
Organization profile published 1982

Year Published:  1982
Resource Type:  Organization
Cx Number:  CX2530

Abstract: 
The Toronto Street Theatre Group ( TSTG) is comprised of a group of individuals from varied backgrounds, the majority of whom have no formal theatre skills. In November of 1981, a core group decided use of an unconventional " language". This "language" turned out to be a combination of agit-prop, street theatre, and mime.

The first piece focusses on El Salvador and came to life through a process of collective creation. This six minute mime/action presents a simple and broad representation of the forces at work in El Salvador piece has been presented in the streets of Toronto, in high schools and community colleges, in churches, in solidarity meetings supporting the struggles of the people of Central America. In schools the piece closes with a discussion format where participants describe their roles and open up a dialogue with students. Leaflets outlining the current situation in El Salvador are distributed as a part of each presentation of the piece, providing people with background information, contacts within the soldiarity network.

The strategies of Group are: to encourage others to take initiative; to reach people who would not normally be reached; to act as an alternative to the established media; and to promote solidarity work/action.

The Group is presently working on other material which will highlight: 1) the police;
2) native people's struggles
3) the disarmament campaign. It is an on-going project which willl continue to develop new pieces and promote an ever increasing audience participation.

For more information on the dynamics of this strategy and rough scripts send a self- addressed stamped enveloped to the above address.

This organization no longer exists.
This abstract was published in the Connexions Digest in 1982.