The language of space
Applied theatre had already shown that it could support collective thinking. The research that led to ExAct Forum went a step further, asking whether it could function as a true language.
The answer is yes. Theatre and the way we think share a fundamental layer: space.
By reducing the expressive toolkit to spatial relations and movement, participants in an ExAct Forum can create concrete meaning by describing a situation in space.
We continuously create models of reality. It is part of our nature. This capacity helps us deal with uncertainty and imagine possible outcomes. We are also able to harmonize our views. Families, communities, organizations and entire societies coordinate actions around a sufficiently shared understanding of their situation.
Today, however, aligning different interpretations is more challenging than ever. The systems we create have become increasingly complex, while the number of perspectives involved in their operation continues to grow. As perspectives multiply, alignment becomes harder to maintain.
ExAct Forum provides a language for shared understanding
ExAct Forum was created by Péter Tasnádi-Sáhy. His professional life has largely revolved around language: he began his career as a writer, journalist and editor, and later became a dramaturg and theatre director.
The idea of using theatre as a language came from Augusto Boal’s forum theatre. Through years of practical work with the method, however, Péter gradually learned that conventional theatrical tools were not precise enough to function as a descriptive language. Rather than letting the question go, he devoted his doctoral research to exploring it further.
ExAct Forum is the result of this commitment. It enables people to literally see in space how the elements of their situation relate to one another and identify the changes needed for better cooperation.