Forum Theatre: Connecting classrooms through innovative pedagogy

Youth Choices Senior Facilitator Andrew Dawson recently visited the University of Edinburgh, collaborating with Dr Mary Bovill, Program Director: PGDE (Secondary Education), to deliver a seminar on the use of Forum Theatre in education programs.

Dr Bovill specialises in the use of Community of Philosophical Inquiry (CoPI), a pedagogy that fosters critical and creative thinking through collaborative reasoning. CoPI encourages educators to engage students in philosophical explorations that demand deep questioning, challenging their own and others assumptions.

While Forum Theatre and Community of Philosophical Inquiry emerge from different traditions, they share a vital common thread: learning through active participation, reflection, and dialogue.

Both approaches prioritise collaborative thinking. In CoPI, students ask and answer deep questions together. In Forum Theatre, students engage, challenge, and reimagine the choices characters make on stage. The methods encourage learners to step outside of static identities and see situations through differing lenses, whether by questioning assumptions in philosophical enquiry, or role playing a character faced with real-life dilemmas. Ultimately, both methods empower students to take ownership of their learning – Forum Theatre shows that change is possible when we have a deeper understanding of the world around us, CoPI shows that understanding deepens when we question and listen.

The collaboration highlights the global relevance of innovative pedagogy. By linking Forum Theatre with inquiry-based approaches like CoPI, we can continue to create powerful learning experiences that encourage young people to think critically, connect meaningfully, and take action.

As Mr Dawson reflected, “Both Forum Theatre and philosophical enquiry are about creating spaces where young people feel safe to question, challenge, and imagine. When we bring these approaches together, we open the door to deeper learning, and importantly, lasting impact.”

At the Constable Care Foundation, we remain committed to the evolution of our practices and program delivery across our wide range of primary and secondary school programs, building connections with international educators and ensuring that these initiatives continue to inspire resilience, empathy, and empowerment in the next generation.