While working at Carleton University, Dr. Warren Clarke developed and delivered a course grounded in the principles of Theatre of the Oppressed, originally conceived by Augusto Boal. The course critically engaged stereotypical notions of gender, race, and sexuality among young Canadians, creating a shared learning environment for undergraduate students, high school students, and the broader Ottawa community.

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Building on this foundation, the project has expanded to include Winnipeg, extending its reach to new communities and deepening its national relevance. The program encourages participants to examine how intersecting identities—gender, race, social class, age, ability, and sexuality—shape lived experiences. It recognizes that within mainstream society, rigid perceptions of identity often make it difficult for young people to express themselves freely as they navigate misconceptions about their personhood.

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As a central component of the course, students collaboratively develop and perform public-facing plays inspired by the Theatre of the Oppressed model. These performances serve as powerful expressions of student learning, highlighting the realities of discrimination and social oppression that young people face in the Canadian social landscape. The theatrical plays create space for dialogue, reflection, and community engagement.

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The arts function here as a critical medium for exploring complex human and social conditions. Students are invited to confront challenging subject matter and engage perspectives that may differ from their own or from dominant social norms. Through this process, they build both confidence and critical awareness. Young people are encouraged to translate lived realities into artistic expression and advocacy. The course culminates in a social justice project involving scriptwriting and performance, designed to engage audiences locally and beyond.