Editing Augusto Boal (section)

==Influences==
[[File:Augusto Boal  nyc5.jpg|thumb|250px|'''Augusto Boal''' presenting his workshop on the ''Theatre of the Oppressed''. [[Riverside Church]], May 13, 2008.]]
Most of Augusto Boal's techniques were created after he realized the limitations of didactic, politically motivated theatre in the poor areas where he worked. He found that his attempts to inspire the people living in poor or "slum" areas to rise up against racial and class inequality were inhibited by his own racial and class background, since he was white and comparatively financially comfortable, as well as his and his colleagues' inhibitions to perform violence themselves. His new techniques allowed the idea of rebellion and the impetus for change to come from within the target group. Much of his early work and teaching was inspired by [[Marxist]] philosophy, although much of his work now falls within the boundaries of a center-left ideology.

[[Paulo Freire]] was a major influence on Boal's teachings. He and Freire became close in later years. When Freire died, Boal said: "I am very sad. I have lost my last father. Now all I have are brothers and sisters".<ref name=PTO/>

Boal was also known to quote [[William Shakespeare]]'s ''[[Hamlet]]'', in which Hamlet argues that theatre is like a mirror that reflects our virtues and defects equally. Although Boal found this quote beautiful, he liked to think of theatre as a mirror in which one can reach in to change reality and to transform it.<ref>[http://josekuller.wordpress.com/38-entrevista-com-augusto-boal/ 38- Entrevista com Augusto Boal | Arquivo68]. Josekuller.wordpress.com. Retrieved on 2019-09-06.</ref>