Thot-Worldwide Foundation Theatre for Education.

FOR THE DUTCH TRANSLATION PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Goal: To transform the powerlessness into the self-reliant.
In cases of sexual abuse, rape, incest or other forms of physical and/or emotional exploitation and abuse.

Target group: Mainly adolescents (12-18 years old) as well as adults.

Location: In schools and village communities, no matter where in the world but mainly in developing countries.

Method: Educational and interactive theatre involving the performance of suitably hard-hitting short plays (45 minutes) by local professional actors and followed directly by a discussion involving both actors and audience.
The discussion is based on propositions. ‘If you agree with a proposition, you stand up. If you disagree, you remain seated.”
During the discussion parts of the play will be re-enacted, if necessary with the participation of audience members, in order to find solutions to the problems and dilemmas.
The discussion lasts for 45 minutes.
At the end every spectator receives a flyer with tips and a summary of the most important points.

Our achievements so far: Here in The Netherlands, alongside the Thot Worldwide Foundation Theatre for Education, we have also set up the independently run Theater Thot which, under the management of artistic director Maarten Bootsma has, so far, introduced five interactive theatre productions to the Dutch market.
With a target group of 12 to 18 year olds these are played out in the classroom, the pupils seated in a semi-circle within which the actors perform. These productions are:

• “Geweld… Nee!” (“Violence… No!”), for 15 to 17 year olds on the subject of pointless violence. (320 performances between 2003 and 2007)
• “ Loverboys” , for girls from 12 to 17 years old. (680 performances since 2004)
• “ Private Chat”, for 12 to 17 year olds on the subject of the dangers of webcams and the internet. (2008-…)
• “ Cashflow”, for 12 to 17 year olds on the subject of debt. (85 performances since 2008)
• At the moment we are also busy with a fifth production: “Happy Days”. An interactive play about depression, suicide and the question of just how achievable happiness actually is. This play will be ready in January 2010.

In Accra, Ghana and for the Thot Worldwide Foundation Theatre for Education, Maarten Bootsma has, In December 2008, founded a registered organization called Thot Ghana which works with Ghanaian ators and office staff members.
An operational plan with statutes, values, organizational structure, procedures and a financial plan has been formulated.
Maarten has also produced, along with four actors, the interactive theatre play ‘Silence… NO!’ about the dilemmas of being a rape victim and what one can do to avoid dangerous situations.
In februari – march 2010 Maarten went to Uganda, Kampala and
worked together with the IATM (International Anticorruption Theatre Movement). He made two productions about sexuel violence and corruption.
The first play ‘Rich man’ for children of 10 – 14 years, Primary school.
The second play ‘Who is to blame?’ for children of 12 – 18 years, Secundary school