The initiative employed various actions and techniques rooted in the methodology of the Theatre of the Oppressed, particularly Legislative Theatre, to engage participants in discussions on precarious work conditions and systemic labor inequalities. The approach combined interactive theatre performances, legislative proposal drafting, and public interventions, ensuring that the project reached diverse audiences, including workers, students, activists, policymakers, and the general public. The core technique used was Forum Theatre, where performances depicted real-life struggles of precarious workers, illustrating various forms of exploitation, institutional barriers, and societal indifference. The performances were structured to invite the audience to intervene, stepping into the roles of the oppressed characters to explore alternative responses to injustice.

This method fostered critical engagement and collective problem-solving. Another crucial component was the Legislative Theatre process, where audience discussions following the performances focused on identifying legislative gaps and potential legal solutions. Participants, guided by facilitators, formulated concrete legislative proposals aimed at improving labor protections, strengthening workers’ rights, and addressing the lack of legal recognition for precarious employment forms. These proposals were refined in collaboration with legal experts and submitted to relevant institutions. Image Theatre and Analytical Theatre were also integrated into workshops and training sessions. These techniques encouraged participants to express systemic injustices visually and symbolically, allowing for deeper reflections on power dynamics and social structures affecting workers in precarious positions. Public interventions played a significant role in raising awareness beyond traditional performance spaces. These interventions included street theatre, direct action performances, and artistic disruptions in public spaces, engaging passersby in spontaneous discussions about precarious work. Workshops were conducted to equip participants with advocacy skills, educating them on labor laws, organizing strategies, and collective bargaining. These sessions were often interactive, incorporating participatory exercises to strengthen solidarity among different groups affected by precarious employment.

One of the major challenges was the problem of precarious work itself, which left participants in unstable economic and social positions. Participants had first-hand experience with precarious employment, and their personal struggles often influenced their ability to fully engage in the initiative. Some were forced to prioritize immediate financial survival over long-term activism, leading to fluctuating participation rates.
To address participation instability, flexible involvement structures were introduced, allowing individuals to contribute as their circumstances permitted.

Another critical challenge was the lack of institutional support and the resistance of decision-makers. While the initiative sought to influence labor policies, the bureaucratic system proved to be largely unresponsive. Attempts to engage labor inspection offices and governmental bodies often resulted in minimal or no concrete action. Even when violations of labor laws were documented, fines for non-compliance were too low to deter employers from continuing exploitative practices.
To counter bureaucratic inertia, legal experts and NGOs specializing in workers’ rights were engaged to strengthen advocacy efforts.

Media engagement was another issue. Despite efforts to raise awareness through performances, forums, and public discussions, mainstream media showed limited interest. A press conference was held, but only few journalists attended, reflecting a broader societal tendency to overlook labor rights issues, especially those concerning precarious work. This lack of visibility hindered the initiative’s reach and impact.
Social media and independent media channels were utilized to bypass mainstream media neglect and reach broader audiences.

The initiative also encountered internal organizational challenges. The complexity of legislative theater required significant preparation, and not all participants had prior experience with this method. The team had to invest additional time in training and developing accessible materials to ensure effective engagement. Furthermore, as the initiative progressed, tensions arose regarding the balance between theatrical and advocacy aspects. Some participants were more focused on artistic expression, while others prioritized direct political action.
Training workshops were expanded to improve participants’ understanding of legislative theater techniques and enhance their capacity for effective advocacy.

Despite these difficulties, several solutions were brought up. However, not all obstacles were overcome. The limited responsiveness of policymakers remained a significant barrier, and the initiative struggled to achieve substantial legislative change. The lack of strong lobbying efforts also weakened its impact in formal political processes. Moving forward, the experiences highlighted the need for sustained coalition-building with stronger institutional allies and a more structured approach to policy advocacy.

Connecting with trade unions as advocacy partners was a significant point of innovation in this initiative. Traditionally, legislative advocacy and labor rights activism have been dominated by legal and institutional channels, but this project introduced an artistic and participatory dimension to union engagement. By integrating unions into the process, the initiative bridged the gap between grassroots activism and formal labor representation.
Trade unions brought institutional knowledge and credibility to the advocacy efforts, helping to refine legislative proposals and provide expertise on labor laws. At the same time, the initiative provided unions with new tools for mobilization, using theater as a way to engage workers in discussions about their rights in a more accessible and emotionally resonant manner. This approach made it easier to reach younger, precariously employed workers who might not have otherwise engaged with unions due to skepticism or lack of awareness​.
Furthermore, unions helped amplify the project’s policy recommendations by integrating them into their own lobbying efforts. This collaboration increased the chances of the proposals reaching policymakers and contributed to a more structured follow-up strategy. The use of legislative theater within union settings also fostered a participatory model of advocacy, encouraging workers to contribute directly to shaping labor policies rather than relying solely on union leadership to represent their interests​.
This strategic partnership with unions was a key innovation, as it demonstrated how cultural interventions and traditional labor movements can complement each other. By connecting artistic activism with structured labor advocacy, the initiative expanded the reach and impact of both movements, offering a replicable model for other labor rights campaigns.

One innovative aspect was the collaboration with academic institutions and civil society organizations. The initiative partnered with multiple faculties at the University of Ljubljana, including the Faculty of Social Sciences, Pedagogical Faculty, and Faculty of Arts, as well as a broad network of NGOs. This interdisciplinary approach fostered a more comprehensive understanding of labor market dynamics and policy interventions​.

The project also focused on capacity-building, training young performers to serve as facilitators and advocates. Participants were equipped with knowledge of labor rights and legal frameworks, ensuring that the project’s impact extended beyond the performances. The initiative also included direct interventions in public spaces, allowing for real-time engagement with audiences and encouraging spontaneous discussions on precarious work.

The project challenged conventional notions of political participation by demonstrating that legislative change can be driven by grassroots cultural interventions. The use of theater as a medium for political discourse empowered marginalized voices and encouraged direct civic engagement, making it a pioneering model for future labor rights advocacy​.

These are the legislative proposals that were a result of the legislative theatre performances that we performed. We handed them over to both of the unions that we cooperated with and they involved them into their advocacy processes in communication to the decision makers. We also presented them in a media conference and both, national radio and natinal TV reported on it.
The struggle remains, though, the situation for precarious workers did not improve – quite the opposite, it worsened because of the growing apetites of the neoliberalistic interests of the employers.

The state must ensure proper supervision of violations of labor legislation.

Ensuring appropriate supervision over violators of labor legislation.

Educating and informing workers about their rights.

Legalization of a minimum hourly wage for atypical forms of work.

Companies must have at least 70% of their workforce on permanent contracts (concerns about how to implement this in practice).

Connecting educational institutions and companies to facilitate easier entry into the labor market for first-time job seekers.

The state must ensure proper supervision of violations of labor legislation.

Increasing the staffing of the Labor Inspectorate.

Initiating discussions about the introduction of Universal Basic Income (UBI).

The state must strive to limit or eradicate precarious employment.

Increasing the number of labor inspectors to monitor employment relations and raising fines for violators.

Legalization of a minimum hourly wage for all forms of work, except for student work.

The state ensures mandatory education and information about workers’ rights and labor organization.

Everyone in an employment relationship and everyone in a relationship with elements of employment has the right to free legal aid.

The state encourages permanent employment.

The state provides funds for the social security of self-employed individuals.

It is the employer’s duty to immediately sign an employment contract with the worker if all elements of an employment relationship are present. In such cases, employment through a sole proprietorship or other forms of precarious work is not allowed.

Mandatory education about workers’ rights and labor legislation in primary and secondary schools.

Better supervision over violators and increasing the staffing of the Labor Inspectorate.

After this project we are regularly conducting workshops to equip participants with advocacy skills, educating them on labor laws, organizing strategies, and collective bargaining. These sessions are interactive, incorporating participatory exercises to strengthen solidarity among different groups affected by precarious employment. Yet, we are not doing more than that in the direction of advocacy or addressing the legislation as an organization.

The initiative significantly adapted Augusto Boal’s classical model of Legislative Theatre by integrating various innovative approaches to suit the specific socio-political and economic context of precarious work in Slovenia. While Boal’s methodology traditionally revolves around forum theatre, audience intervention, and direct engagement with legislators, this project expanded the scope by incorporating additional elements to enhance advocacy, awareness, and mobilization.
One key innovation was the emphasis on structured advocacy through connections with labor unions and legal experts. Unlike the classical model, which primarily focuses on public participation and direct policy recommendations through legislative chambers, this initiative actively collaborated with trade unions to strengthen advocacy efforts and push for labor reforms. By bringing unions into the process, the initiative ensured a more sustained and institutionally supported effort to tackle precarious work conditions.
The initiative also introduced alternative public engagement strategies beyond traditional forum theatre. While the classical model relies on audience interventions during performances, this project included direct advocacy actions such as public interventions, street performances, and policy proposal drafting sessions. This shift allowed for a more interactive and sustained approach to legislative change rather than relying solely on theatrical representation.
Moreover, the initiative placed a strong focus on educating participants about labor laws and workers’ rights. While Boal’s model emphasizes consciousness-raising through performance, this adaptation included structured legal education sessions to ensure that participants not only identified systemic issues but also understood their rights and potential legal solutions.
A crucial discovery was the challenge of institutional resistance to participatory legislative processes. Unlike Boal’s experiences in Brazil, where legislative theatre was incorporated into city council decision-making, this initiative faced significant bureaucratic hurdles and a lack of political will for substantial reform. This highlighted the need for a coalition-building to overcome legislative inertia.

For those who wish to undertake a similar initiative, several key lessons and recommendations emerge from this project.

Flexibility in methodology is key. While Boal’s Legislative Theatre provides a strong foundation, adapting the approach to local contexts and specific social issues is necessary for effectiveness. This project demonstrated that incorporating structured discussions, non-interventionist performances, and legal education can be valuable additions to the classical model. Future initiatives should be open to modifying the approach based on the needs of their target audience and the socio-political landscape in which they operate.

Securing strong partnerships with organizations that specialize in legislative change and labor rights advocacy. Collaborating with trade unions, legal experts, and policy researchers from the outset can enhance the credibility and effectiveness of the initiative, ensuring that legislative proposals are well-founded and strategically positioned for consideration by decision-makers.

To integrate a multi-channel approach to public engagement. Relying solely on theatre performances may limit the outreach of the initiative, so it is essential to incorporate other advocacy tools such as media campaigns, public debates, press conferences, and digital content like podcasts or video testimonials. These platforms can help sustain discussions beyond the immediate audience and reach policymakers, journalists, and the broader public.

To ensure institutional buy-in from the beginning. Many challenges in this project stemmed from bureaucratic resistance and lack of formal agreements with institutions. Securing commitments from educational institutions, governmental bodies, or local municipalities before starting the project can facilitate smoother implementation and prevent obstacles that may arise when trying to push for legislative change.

Designing a clear follow-up strategy to maintain momentum after the performances and discussions. Legislative Theatre often creates a strong initial impact, but without sustained advocacy efforts, proposals can lose traction. Allocating dedicated funding and human resources for long-term lobbying, networking with policymakers, and monitoring legislative developments is essential to achieving meaningful change.

To allocate specific funding for legal support and expert analysis. This initiative demonstrated that having legal professionals involved in drafting legislative proposals significantly strengthened their impact. Future projects should consider budgeting for legal consultants to ensure that proposed policies align with existing legal frameworks and have a realistic chance of being implemented.
When working with marginalized groups, it is vital to provide a safe and supportive environment that allows them to share their experiences without fear of repercussions. This includes ensuring anonymity where necessary, offering psychological support if dealing with sensitive topics like workplace exploitation, and creating opportunities for direct engagement with policymakers in safe and structured settings.