ABSTRACT
The chapter presents a case study on applied drama with children who participate in the university extension programme, Theatre in Communities (Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, UNIRIO), in the Maré Complex (Rio de Janeiro). This district includes 16 favelas (shanty town communities) with a history of neglect by public authorities. Such neglect brings the children closer to the experience of other residents of the Brazilian urban peripheries, whose daily life is marked by a combination of numerous vulnerabilities: poor schooling, contact with criminal groups, prejudice and frequent armed conflict. The chapter reflects on the potential of playfulness for creating an imaginary reality that represents a counterpoint to the daily violence to which these children are exposed.
