Theatre: dissemination of information about contemporary families

Abstract

This paper reports on the implementation of a university extension project involving twelve schools in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The aim of the work was to disseminate, through the staging of a theatre play, themes related to contemporary families that were researched in the human sciences. It was sought to identify viable strategies that could offer greater support to families and schools within a current context. The results of research conducted by the group were used to compose the script of the play, which was presented in the schools by the psychology students. After staging the play, a discussion was held with the audience. Topics such as the post-divorce family, family life, shared custody, and parental bonds were included in most of the discussions that followed the performances. The considerations raised in the discussions were identified as being positive and constructive by many of the teachers and parents present in the different audiences. Furthermore, the work demonstrated the use of a new tool for the dissemination of university research.