Live Theatre Show: Teenage Dating Violence
“You guys were incredible... You’re doing great things and you’re very down to Earth. Keep going; you’re changing the world. :)”
– Travis
Far From the Heart / Loin du Coeur is presented as a live, interactive Theatre Forum play as part of an educational dating violence prevention strategy. It differs from the movie experience in several key ways:
the show is 90 minutes long; the 22 minute play is followed by audience interaction and critical analysis;
the show is followed by a conversation between your students and professional counselors in the fields of social work and health care;
the show is supported by an in-class / in-group educational strategy that prepares students in advance, and then continues to integrate and use this knowledge.
FFTH / LC helps youth answer key questions:
What is dating violence
How to prevent dating violence
How to stop dating violence
How to help rape victims
What is an abusive relationship
What is sexual abuse
What is physical abuse
What is emotional abuse
What to do when in an abusive relationship
How to stop sexual assault
Where to get help for abusive relationships
Where to get help for sexual assault
Forum Theatre
The live play presents problematic scenarios that end in a dilemma to deliberately stimulate audience members into action. Audience members can stop the performance at a moment when a character is being oppressed in some way. The audience suggests different actions on-stage in an attempt to change the outcome. The student acts out their idea with our professional cast. Then we debrief the intervention. As a result, people gain knowledge useful in everyday life to resolve conflicts, negotiate relationships and avoid risk, and thereby gain problem-solving skills. Forum Theatre is a type of interactive theatre created by the innovative and influential practitioner Augusto Boal as part of what he called his “Theatre of the Oppressed”.
Far From the Heart / Loin du Coeur was developed in collaboration with a group of teens under the professional direction of Joan Chandler and Simon Malbogat.
“The production was nothing short of wonderful. Without self-consciousness, topics long dormant sprang back to life again. Beneath the laughter and delight of watching scenes unfold and remix, the more serious side of the message reached its goal.”
– Jan Kielven
Positive Climates for Learning Specialist, Curriculum and Instructional Services
York Region District School Board
Book a Show
Download information package: Far From the Heart – Live Theatre
“Quite powerful!”
–Susan Hay
Global Television
Également disponsible en français: Loin du Coeur – Spectacles, Un spectacle sur la violence dans les adolescente recontres
If you would like to mount your own production, please contact Artistic Director, Joan Chandler.
“Une perle rare que nous devons exploiter au maximum.”
– Marc-André Proulx
École Saint-Dominique-Savio, Owen Sound
