Marginalized communities are excluded from participating in the broader community due to diminished access to social resources. Dislocation from the community is often associated with:

• homelessness
• poor mental health
• unemployment
• lack of education and training
• drug and alcohol dependency
• history of physical and emotional abuse
• violent behaviour toward self and others
• disenfranchisement from family and community
• dysfunctional relationship with services, institutions and the justice system

Long histories of exclusion from mainstream society make it difficult and often impossible for marginalised communities to participate due to entrenched experiences of worthlessness, rejection and disempowerment.
Theatre is a powerful vehicle for the re-engagement of marginalised communities due to its potential for creativity, flexibility and inclusion. Theatre is able to respond to the needs of diverse communities by creating a structure and way of working that is in line with their needs, interests and experiences. The community artist develops workshop models in consultation with the community.

Theatre-making is a creative process which encourages the expression of ideas and experiences. These ideas and experiences form the basis of the development of a theatre piece in which the shared experience of the community is transformed into a co-created product. The theatre piece serves as a vehicle for marginalised communities to work collaboratively and to take up public space. The opportunity to be heard and acknowledged in the broader community is important - it is the climax of a creative process in which the community's ideas and experiences are translated into a work of art.

Theatre is a collaborative experience - it cannot happen without the commitment of a group of players towards a common goal. In struggling with the development of the creative process, participants learn how to manage conflict and difference, maintain focus and motivation, develop social skills and build resilience.

If we fail to engage and empower people at the margins, the social costs will continue to escalate. We can certainly expect more:

• generational unemployment
• high risk behaviours resulting in premature death
• repeated and long-term incarceration
• mental health issues
• drug and alcohol dependency
• family and community breakdown

These issues need to be understood in terms of their personal and social contexts.

Theatre offers a space to explore the complex and painful issues associated with marginalisation.

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Off the Map is interested in cultivating more than just the theatrical arts. We believe that the restoration of dignity and self-worth across the whole community is necessary for social integration and healing. Off the Map promotes three mindsets that work towards achieving social wholeness:

The Art of Taking Up Space is the cultivation of creativity through performance in order to give voice to the experiences of marginalised communities.

The Art of Collective Dreaming is the cultivation of collaborative projects which bring communities and organisations together to envision a new future.

The Art of Generating Goodwill is the cultivation of a space of respect and acceptance in which it is possible to wonder about the ideas and experiences of others.

Off the Map develops projects which provide opportunities for collaboration, inclusion and innovation within and across communities.

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