2026 is going to be another great year for the Lincoln Poverty Truth Commission (PTC) writes Laura Harris, Lincoln PTC Community Commissioner. We are excited to announce that we will be holding a welfare themed Legislative Theatre production with participatory theatre maker and communication coach Rachel Griffiths in June.
Legislative Theatre was started in the early 1990s by Augusto Boal, building on his work of creating the Theatre of the Oppressed, which was developed as a political, interactive tool to fight authoritarianism.
Legislative theatre is a form of production where the audience partake in the play. Through this art-form, Commissioners will come together to offer ideas to redesign the Personal Independence Payments (PIP) welfare system.
Commissioners will bring individuals and representatives from across the existing system together to show the true impact of PIP and invite participants to design a new system that looks to answer both of the following questions:
- How do we reduce the rising and unsustainable costs of the welfare system?
- How do we ensure the most vulnerable get what they need, when they need it?
The event is being held at The Engine Shed on Brayford Wharf East (Lincoln) on 4th June, between 9.30am to 4.30pm. There will also be art exhibitions on the theme of welfare transformation, inspired by our Poverty Truth Commission work, as well as poetry, stories and music from our Commissioners.
If you’re interest in attending, you can book your ticket here.
To find out more about the event click here.
This work is closely related to the ongoing Amplify Theme Group working on Disability and Social Security, they are creating a submission for the Timms Review, which is currently calling for submissions for evidence for the review of the PIP assessment process. The Amplify group is also working with Rachel Griffiths to use Theatre of the Oppressed methods to shape their video submission, watch this space!