Abstract:
This study presents an investigation into ageism, a phenomenon that discriminates based on age and compromises the physical and mental health of older adults. It was inspired by the Ageism Observatory, a study and extension group from UFBA/UFU that explores recurring themes of aging in the pursuit of combating age-related prejudice. The main objective was to promote reflection and challenge stereotypes among elderly women from the Velhicidade group in Mata Escura (Salvador) through conversation circles and collective theatrical practices, grounded in the author's personal and professional journey and previous affective and artistic experiences. A qualitative approach was adopted, in the form of a case study and experiential report involving 23 participants, with 10 workshop sessions based on Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed, conducted dialogically through the theoretical principles of Bakhtin’s Circle and Boal's methodology. In the discussion, written accounts from interactions with the participants were analyzed and organized into emerging thematic axes, revealing how initially painful memories were reinvented as creative celebrations, generating new meanings of belonging, self-care, and strengthened community bonds. Finally, it is concluded that the dialogue between Augusto Boal (1975) and Bakhtin (1992) proved to be a powerful theoretical foundation, and that the lived experience reported demonstrates the transformative power of theatrical practices in promoting healthy aging and valuing life stories, challenging stereotypical perceptions and expanding spaces for empowerment.
