About Theatre of the Oppressed NYC
Theatre of the Oppressed NYC (TONYC) is where theatre becomes rehearsal for real change. Founded to bring Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed practices into the diverse neighborhoods of New York City, TONYC partners with communities confronting systemic oppression—housing insecurity, policing, immigration barriers, and more. Their programs draw on Paulo Freire’s liberatory pedagogy, inviting participants not just to watch but to intervene: to step on stage, embody solutions, and test collective strategies for action. For TONYC, theatre is not just art—it’s a political practice and a tool for transformation.
What Is FIGHT-RAISER II?
This fall, TONYC is staging FIGHT-RAISER II: Tactics and Theatrics, an evening of performance, training, and community-building. “When people join us in a room for a performance, rehearsal, or workshop, they are invited to rehearse the actions they want to take to change the world,” the team says. “FIGHT-RAISER II is one of these opportunities. We gather our community not only to build support for our work, but to engage people in ongoing rehearsals for action.”
From the First FIGHT-RAISER to Now
The first FIGHT-RAISER in 2024 unfolded just weeks before the general election, at a time when arts and social justice groups were seeing their resources dwindle. Since then, funding losses have only deepened. That urgency fuels this year’s return, with a theme—Tactics and Theatrics—that makes the case for art as a sustaining force in activism.
Why “Fight Night”?
The framing of a “fight night” underscores both the spectacle and the stakes. TONYC’s communities are underfunded and under attack, while wealth and resources are increasingly concentrated elsewhere. The metaphor highlights resistance, confrontation, and the rigorous training movements require. Like in sport, victories depend on teamwork, preparation, and persistence—qualities TONYC rehearses on stage and in community.
A Blend of Performance, Training, and Community
FIGHT-RAISER II doesn’t separate art from action. Performances amplify lived stories. Training exercises sharpen interventions. And the shared space of rehearsal builds the community needed to sustain long-term change. Attendees will connect with partners including Black Dance Change Makers, Interference Archive, Malikah, Radical Evolution, NYCLU, and Theatre Workers for a Ceasefire, each bringing their own tactics and knowledge into the room.
What Attendees Will Experience
The night invites audiences to experiment. Play itself becomes a tactic—an antidote to the exhaustion of 2025, a reminder that joy can be fuel. Alongside that, guests can practice self-defense, learn organizing strategies, and take part in collaborative art-making. The experience is designed to equip attendees with tools that are both creative and practical.
Impact Beyond the Night
Funds raised at FIGHT-RAISER II will power TONYC’s ongoing programs, including performances with Housing Works and collaborations with the Ali Forney Center and SAGE. Resources will also sustain training opportunities for those eager to learn TONYC’s methods. Longer term, the organization hopes this community support will restore programs lost to budget cuts, from its Rapid Response and ESCUCHA troupes to partnerships with Red Hook Community Justice Center, Breaking Ground, and Fortune Society.
Walking Away Changed
For participants, the event aims to spark recognition and connection. “Typically, people leave our events surprised to have heard someone else talk about an exact experience they have had; they feel ‘it’s not just me,’” TONYC says. “After FIGHT-RAISER II, we hope people will leave energized by those connections, and motivated to attend more events and share information.”
Theatre of the Oppressed NYC doesn’t just stage performances—it stages possibilities. With FIGHT-RAISER II, those possibilities feel like a fight worth showing up for.
