Spect-actor: A Journal of Pedagogy & Theatre of the Oppressed

Spect-actor: A Journal of Pedagogy & Theatre of the Oppressed is a peer-reviewed, annual, open-access journal dedicated to scholarship and practice where critical pedagogy and critical theatre meet. Inspired by Augusto Boal’s concept of the spect-actor, the journal centres work that moves beyond observation toward participation, dialogue, and collective transformation.

General submissions are warmly welcomed on a rolling basis throughout the year. In addition to our ongoing open call, the 2026 edition will include a curated special section.

Aims & Scope

The mission of Spect-actor: A Journal of Pedagogy & Theatre of the Oppressed is to create a scholarly and community-based space for critical dialogue about oppression and liberation, and to foster collaborative connections that share, develop, promote, and document how transformative theory (including, but not limited to, Pedagogy of the Oppressed and Theatre of the Oppressed) can affect social change locally and globally. The journal is dedicated to unveiling the lived experiences of communities we belong to and interact with, and struggling against systemic oppression in the pursuit of freedom.

Spect-actor: A Journal of Pedagogy & Theatre of the Oppressed is an independent, peer-reviewed, annual publication. The editorial team strive to bridge community activism and academic scholarship through supportive and humanizing reviewing and publishing processes. Editorial review board members span a broad range of knowledge and experience levels in education, performance, artmaking, activism, scholarly research, and anti-oppression efforts.

Spect-actor: A Journal of Pedagogy & Theatre of the Oppressed is committed to providing transparent and supportive feedback on all submissions. One-on-one editorial guidance is provided for each accepted work throughout revision and copyediting processes. Individuals without previous publishing experience are especially invited to submit.

For questions and inquiries about Spect-actor: A Journal of Pedagogy & Theatre of the Oppressed, contact the Executive Editor, Matthew Rich-Tolsma, at m.rich-tolsma@artez.nl.

To see the current call for submissions, please click here.

Check Out the Journal Website

About Spect-actor:

Launched in 2015 as the Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed Journal / “PTO Journal”), Spect-actor: A Journal of Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed publishes one volume of artistic, reflective, and/or scholarly work a year. Hosted by BePress and supported through the University of Northern Iowa Rod Library, the journal is free and relatively easy for PTO to operate. The editors oversee all aspects of the journal including submission and publication processes, maintenance of the associate editor team and editorial review board, publicity and marketing for the journal, management of journal-related websites, and communication through the journal’s email account. The editorial review board is 35 members strong, and the editors collaborate with a small team of associate editors who provide review, editorial, and other support to the editors as needed. The current editor is Matthew Rich-Tolsma. 

Questions about the journal and submissions may be directed to the current editor at
m.rich-tolsma@artez.nl.