An evaluation of the function of the play in Augusto Boal's theatre within the context of play theories

The play is one of the actions that can be spoken of everywhere in the presence of a person with its nature of being an activity done freely and willingly. In the harsh reality of daily life, the play creates an appealing dimension with its truly different nature, temporarily offering another world. The connection established by humans through the play has been the subject of research throughout the ages due to the individual and social functions of the play in life. Many theories about the play have been put forward from Ancient Greece to the present. Augusto Boal, one of the prominent directors of the 20th century, operates with an understanding that places the social function of the play at the center in his method called "The Theater of the Oppressed." This study evaluates Boal's theatrical approach, where he uses the play as a tool for social change, by examining the function of the play in the context of play theories. In this context, a literature review was conducted for play theories and Boal's play approaches, and the relationship between the approaches was evaluated based on the findings.