Theater with a mission

PoliglotTheater is dedicated to the creation of artistically progressive, intellectually challenging documentary theater. Our goal is to use the power inherent in this kind of theater to raise American awareness of injustice and humanitarian need around the world.

Abroad

We travel to areas of conflict or crisis and conduct extensive interviews and research while engaging in hands-on humanitarian relief. The interviews and film we gather then provide the raw materials for new theatrical work that advocates for social and political change.

We believe in hands-on humanitarian work. Wherever we travel, we aim not to simply visit as tourists, but to make a practical and immediate difference according to the needs and wishes of the local population. Relief work also serves as research for script development – a way to fully immerse ourselves in a culture, understand the complexities of a problem, and investigate solutions.

At Home

The interviews and film we gather on our travels — as well as blogs, newspaper articles, graffiti, and other found text and images — all form the basis for original performance pieces. Our work breaks the traditional documentary theater mold by fusing movement, text, and film to create a compelling multimedia collage of scenes and stylized representation.

Poliglot’s style of performance and production evolves script to script, but it is always grounded in the idea that theater can and should be a catalyst for change, a means of inspiring American audiences to respond to humanitarian crisis and need. The empathy inherent in live performance is, in this way, one of our most valuable tools.