When I first cybermet with Dorothy Bogdan, she didn't like me at all. She had heard things about me from people she trusted at the time, and the things weren't good. I already felt like I knew Dorothy too. She had been used as a means to attack me everytime I posted something controversial regarding 9/11 on one of my favourite website forums at that time;

"We have a 9/11 widow as a member of this site, how dare you post such tripe", or words of that ilk had been posted to me many times. From the outside looking in, this didn't look like a possible friendship. Until we started speaking with each other and disregarding preconceptions that is.

Dorothy was not the pitiful, weeping, 9/11 widow others had led me to believe. In fact she was far from it. She was and is, a sassy, confident, opinionated, honest and open human being with a big heart and a very realistic view of the world. Far from the picture others had painted. She too found that I was very different from my publically painted portrait, and a friendship was begun.

After a difference of opinion on the forums where we met, our friendship continued on my own site which is the web base of a UK non-profit currently applying for charitable status. When Dorothy learned the details of what I was planning to do with 'Performance Plaza', she made me an offer of a $5000 donation to get the 'ball rolling', as it were.

I have to admit that at first I was hesitant to accept. After the problems at our former haunt, I knew that the rumours would start to fly about how I had planned all this, how this had been my intent from the start. Dorothy asked me a very important question, she said;

"What's more important to you, what other people think, or getting 'Performance Plaza' started and doing some good with it"

Sometimes all it takes is the right question. I graciously accepted her offer and the ball has indeed started to roll. Despite our obvious differences, we were able form a truly great friendship. Simply by ignoring preconceptions and taking each other for who we are. Dorothy likes the ideas behind the projects because they deal with 'leading by example'. With a true sense of community. Please find below the formal press release for 'Performance Plaza'.

The Power of Performance

"There is too much to learn from Acting, to keep it the sole reserve of Actors"

The link between Psychology and Drama is a barely visible, hugely underestimated and very powerful human resource. Augusto Boal knew this and developed exercises with this link in mind. Though they were still firmly rooted in the theatre, the psychological benefits cannot be ignored.

Cop-in-the-Head is a specific exercise amongst Boal's therapeutic techniques. It is also the term Boal originally used to designate the entire series of TO exercises that address internalized oppressions. Boal explains that some people stopped themselves from taking political actions because they had "cops in their heads"—fears that persisted after the oppressor no longer had "real" power over them. Boal believes that all the cops in our heads have identities and headquarters in the external world that need to be located. He sees this work as bordering on psychology but still firmly rooted in the realm of theater.

Source:  http://www.communityarts.net/readingroom/archive/boalintro.php

The idea behind Performance Plaza is a simple one. It is the plan to use performance art as a tool to aid the learning, adapting, growth and bonding within local communities.

The uses/benefits of seeing a situation through another persons eyes are already known and are boundless. In essence, this is what acting is all about. Method Acting is nothing more than induced empathy.

Starting with the developement of local community theatre groups, and moving into TIE (Theatre in Education), Performance Plaza is soon to apply for charitable status. We are already a very close, honest and highly dramatic fun family at our forums:  http://www.plaza.org.uk/forum/ , & we have plans.

Imagine a drama group in every community, that every person can afford to be a member of. Imagine special shows produced for Schools and Youth groups with educational content. Content developed with the input of the Parents. Imagine a place where new playwriters can have actors read through their work in a performance set up. Imagine local communities producing and performing their own 'Pantomimes', under a scheme called, 'The One Pound Panto', enabling every child to see one at least once.

'The Music Share Program', our attempt to place instruments into hands that will use them. This program will encourage the donation of musical instruments from those who own but do not use them. Under this program, we will also be offering group musical tuition, free of charge, using instruments owned by Performance Plaza.

These are the current goals of Performance Plaza, and this is just the beginning. In the wise, wise words of old Bill Shakespeare;

"All the world is a stage and all the men and women merely players"

Visitors, new members and anyone who thinks they may be able to offer help, or are interested in learning more are very welcome:

 http://www.plaza.org.uk/
Paul J. Burgess