Community organising for all

27/06/2025

💥 We finished our project cycle with the Community Organising for All Conference in Zagreb, on June 16!

We gathered to:

👉 Discuss community organising through the lens of the theatre of the oppressed and critical pedagogy, in an exciting exchange featuring academics, activists and community leaders

👉 Present the COFA website and the community organising toolkit that we developed through the past 3 years

👉 Perform the legislative thatre play Lijepa Naša, devised with the legislative theatre metodhology refined through the project

🎭 COFA is an international project brought to you by the joint efforts of Centar za kazalište potlačenih POKAZ, Giolli Cooperativa Sociale, EFA London (English for Action) and Zavod Bob. Thanks everybody!

✨The project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission and EU executive agencies. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

20/06/2025

Graz – Housing Is a Right, Not a Commodity
Can theatre help reclaim housing as a human right?

In Graz, Austria, InterACT and a network of partner organizations used Legislative Theatre to challenge the growing commodification of housing. The performances reflected the struggles of people facing unaffordable rents, substandard living conditions, and precarious housing—especially migrants, low-income residents, and those excluded from the formal housing market.

🎭 Their message was clear: affordable housing isn't enough if it isn't safe, inclusive, and dignified. Through the project, they invited municipal officials and national representatives to witness these stories and join the conversation about housing justice.

This initiative made space for the voices of the excluded—and reminded decision-makers that home should not be a privilege.

👉 Read the full story and explore more tools for change:
🔗 https://cofaproject.org/case-studies-of-legislative-theatre-projects-in-europe-and-usa



Disclaimer: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission and EU executive agencies. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

19/06/2025

Tyrol – Rewriting Disability Rights Through Legislative Theatre
What happens when people with disabilities help write the law?

In Tyrol, Austria, decades-old disability legislation no longer reflected modern rights or realities. So SpectACT and its partners launched a bold Legislative Theatre process—bringing together people with physical and mental disabilities, intersex and transgender individuals, social workers, and government officials to collectively draft new policy proposals.

🎭 Backed by the Minister for Social Affairs, Christine Baur, the project traveled across the region, building trust and gathering input. Lawyers, civil servants, and community members all contributed, making this a rare and powerful example of co-creating legislation with those most affected.

This was more than theatre—it was democracy in action.

👉 Read the full case study and discover more stories of change:
🔗 https://cofaproject.org/case-studies-of-legislative-theatre-projects-in-europe-and-usa



Disclaimer: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission and EU executive agencies. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

18/06/2025

Portugal – Students Take the Stage for Education Justice
Who really gets to access higher education—and who gets left behind?

In Portugal, university and high school students came together through Legislative Theatre to question a system where financial pressure and bureaucratic obstacles limit access to education. Their performances sparked urgent conversations about scholarship systems, the rising role of student debt, and the growing financialization of education.

🎭 The initiative gave students a platform to propose real policy change: simpler access to scholarships, stronger public support systems, and alternatives to private bank loans.

It wasn’t just theatre—it was a call for democratic education, driven by those most affected.

👉 Read the full story and explore more examples of participatory action:
🔗 https://cofaproject.org/case-studies-of-legislative-theatre-projects-in-europe-and-usa



Disclaimer: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission and EU executive agencies. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

17/06/2025

Slovenia & Croatia – Theatre for Gender Equality and Systemic Change
How do we change the rules when inequality is woven into everyday life?

In Slovenia and Croatia, the project “Enakost spolov je zakon” (Gender Equality is Law) brought together educators, students, activists, and artists to challenge gender-based violence and systemic discrimination. Through Legislative Theatre in high schools and universities, participants confronted harmful stereotypes, questioned internalized norms, and imagined policies that better protect and empower women, LGBTQ+ communities, and all those affected by inequality.

🎭 Together with partners like POKAZ (Croatia), Mirovni Inštitut, and KUD Transformator (Slovenia), they developed performances, podcasts, and forums—and submitted 12 legislative proposals to relevant ministries. Their goal: to make gender equality not just a value, but a legal and cultural reality.

While direct political influence was limited, the project made space for critical pedagogy, feminist discourse, and collective imagination—tools essential for long-term change.

👉 Read the full story and discover more inspiring case studies:
🔗 https://cofaproject.org/case-studies-of-legislative-theatre-projects-in-europe-and-usa



Disclaimer: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission and EU executive agencies. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

16/06/2025

Croatia – Roma Voices Demand Desegregation in Schools
What does equal education mean when your first years of school are spent in a segregated classroom?

In northern Croatia, where Roma communities face deep-rooted discrimination, a powerful legislative theatre initiative called for an end to school segregation. Led by Roma activists from ROM HR and supported by POKAZ, the performances were created by people who had lived through these injustices firsthand—including growing up in segregated settlements and attending separate classrooms.

The core demand? That the Ministry of Education adopt a national action plan for school desegregation—and ensure equal access to quality education for Roma children across the country.

🎭 The performances sparked dialogue in universities, Roma cultural centers, and public forums—pushing a national conversation forward and connecting with European allies for broader solidarity.

👉 Explore the full case and more stories of change:
🔗 https://cofaproject.org/case-studies-of-legislative-theatre-projects-in-europe-and-usa



Disclaimer: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission and EU executive agencies. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

15/06/2025

York – Fighting Police Discrimination with Legislative Theatre
What if a city ID could help protect the most vulnerable?

In New York, Theatre of the Oppressed NYC partnered with the Ali Forney Center and other groups to address police discrimination against LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming people—especially those facing homelessness. The project used legislative theatre to shape the conversation around the new citywide ID card, IDNYC, pushing to ensure it would be inclusive of gender identity.

Their performance wasn’t just a show—it was a policy intervention. NYC Council Member Carlos Menchaca, sponsor of the IDNYC bill, attended and engaged directly with the issues raised on stage.

🎭 This case shows how theatre can bring grassroots voices into the policymaking process—turning lived experience into legislative impact.

👉 Read the full story and explore more tools for change:
🔗 https://cofaproject.org/case-studies-of-legislative-theatre-projects-in-europe-and-usa

14/06/2025

Scotland – Reimagining Public Services Through Legislative Theatre
How can public services become truly people-centered?

In Scotland, a network of theatre-makers, activists, and citizens came together during the pandemic to investigate what “person-centered public service” really means—and how institutions can evolve to meet the urgent needs of communities.

Through legislative theatre performances across the country, they explored early intervention, institutional accountability, and climate action. Their work brought together government officials, charity leaders, and community members in a shared space to question, reimagine, and co-create public policy.

🎭 By blending live performance with digital tools (with support from Civic Digits and others), the project not only reached new audiences—it also amplified the voices of those often excluded from political decision-making.

👉 Discover the full case study and explore more tools for participatory change:
🔗 https://cofaproject.org/case-studies-of-legislative-theatre-projects-in-europe-and-usa



Disclaimer: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission and EU executive agencies. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

13/06/2025

Slovenia – Youth Take on Precarious Work through Legislative Theatre
What does it mean when 76% of first jobs are precarious?

In Slovenia, young people used Legislative Theatre to confront the growing crisis of insecure employment. From freelance translators and kiosk workers to NGO staff and student contractors, they brought real-life experiences of exploitation to the stage—naming systemic injustice, not personal failure, as the root cause.

Through performance and policy dialogue, they proposed legal changes: stronger labor protections, limits on exploitative contracts, and proper enforcement of workers’ rights. Their message was clear: precarity is not a personal choice—it’s a political condition.

🎭 Led by Zavod Bob and supported by labor unions, students, and researchers, this initiative offered a powerful example of how critical pedagogy and participatory theatre can mobilize a generation of young workers.

👉 Explore the full case study and more tools for change:
🔗 https://cofaproject.org/case-studies-of-legislative-theatre-projects-in-europe-and-usa



Disclaimer: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission and EU executive agencies. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

20/05/2025