The Great Game of Power

This is a simple, and straightforward role-play activity. It is, however, also a very impactful activity, and one that students frequently respond well to. The role-play, ‘the Great Game of Power’, was originally devised by Augusto Boal, as part of his ‘Theater of the Oppressed’. The game examines issues of power, how power is manifested, and its various symbolic representations. Since language is also a symbolic system, the activity is particularly relevant, and may function to ‘trigger’ further work around issues of language, literature, and power. The game may also be used as a stimulus for further consideration of metaphor; in observing the game, it is interesting to see the different ways students conceptualize the notion of power.

The Great Game of Power

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