கண்ணுக்குப் புலனாகா அரங்கு: யாழ்ப்பாணப் பல்கலைக்கழக அனுபவத்தின் சுயஇனவரைவியல் ஆய்வு

Performing the Invisible Theatre: An Autoethnographic Study of Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed at Jaffna University

Abstract

This research, grounded in Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed framework, explores how the performance form known as Invisible Theatre can function as a catalyst for social change and educational awareness. The study focuses on an Invisible Theatre intervention carried out in 1995 by newly admitted students at the University of Jaffna, staged as a peaceful artistic protest against the oppressive practice of “ragging” on the campus. Methodologically, the research integrates autoethnography with core principles of the Theatre of the Oppressed. Drawing upon personal experiences, memories, and reflective narratives, the researcher analyzes the psychological, cultural, and educational dimensions of this significant social event. The findings demonstrate that art, particularly Invisible Theatre, serves as a powerful medium for exposing systems of oppression, cultivating social consciousness, and generating critical educational dialogue. The work aligns with Freire’s (1970) concept of Critical Pedagogy and Boal’s (1992) notion of theatre as a “rehearsal for revolution.” The Invisible Theatre action at the University of Jaffna stands as an early example of integrating artistic practice with liberation-oriented thinking within Sri Lankan higher education.