Theatre Studio “Changes”: Art That Teaches Critical Thinking

During the 2025–2026 academic year, the “Changes” Theatre Studio of the Faculty of Preschool, Special and Social Education continued to bring students together through the practice of contemporary social theatre, helping them not only develop creative skills but also reflect on the pressing challenges of today’s society.

The Studio’s activities were built around the Newspaper Theatre format, one of the techniques of the Theatre of the Oppressed developed by Brazilian theatre practitioner Augusto Boal. This approach transforms newspaper articles, official documents, social media posts, and other non-theatrical texts into theatrical performances created collaboratively by both professional actors and people without previous theatrical experience. It encourages participants to analyse information critically, consider multiple perspectives, and reflect on contemporary social issues.

The Studio was founded and is led by Alla Melnychuk, Assistant at the Department of Social Work and Inclusive Education, member of the National Union of Theatre Workers of Ukraine, co-founder of the School of the Theatre of the Oppressed, and Forum Theatre Joker.

Throughout the academic year, the Studio held 19 theatre workshops, during which participants explored twelve Newspaper Theatre techniques while addressing a wide range of socially significant topics. These included culture during wartime, responsibility within the education system, politics and sport, personal data protection, trust in civil society organisations, climate change, gender equality, the use of artificial intelligence in science, transport safety, media literacy and information hygiene, as well as other issues directly affecting contemporary society.

An important aspect of the Studio’s work was sharing theatre practices with the wider student community. Participants independently organised and facilitated a presentation of the Newspaper Theatre format for students of the Faculty, focusing on the theme “Social Work in Focus.” Another workshop demonstrated the practical application of Newspaper Theatre techniques in work with children and young people through the topic “Social Assistance and Corrective Health Technologies.”

The programme was further enriched by guest trainers Alina Berezhna and Deniza Hlezina, both Forum Theatre Jokers, who shared their professional experience in social theatre and interactive theatre methodologies.

Overall, 177 participants took part in the Studio’s activities during the academic year. In their feedback, students noted that the workshops not only helped them develop creative and performance skills but also contributed to their emotional well-being, strengthened their critical thinking, and encouraged a more conscious approach to consuming information. The development of media literacy and critical news analysis became one of the Studio’s most significant achievements.

The Studio team sincerely thanks the NGO “Theatre of Changes” for its valuable support in organising and delivering the workshops.

The activities of the “Changes” Theatre Studio contribute to the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 – Quality Education, SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities, and SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. The Studio continues to demonstrate that theatre is not only an art form but also a powerful tool for education, dialogue, and positive social change.

Based on materials provided by Alla Melnychuk,
Assistant at the Department of Social Work and Inclusive Education,
Coordinator of the Leadership School