This thesis shows applied theatre as a form of critical pedagogy and its role in the empowerment and emancipation of young adults. The thesis explains and analyses the contemporary theory of empowerment and emancipation as well as the concept of emancipatory (critical) pedagogy resulting from the work of the great educator and the author of “Pedagogy of the Oppressed” Paulo Freire. Considering that it’s impossible to cover the myriad practices, methods and legacies within the practice of applied theatre, this thesis and its research will focus on the forms of applied theatre stemming from the methodology of the “Theatre of the Oppressed” by Augusto Boal. The aim of this research is to analyse the significance of applied theatre for the empowerment and emancipation of young adults. Narrative interviews have been conducted with four young adults, aged 18 to 30, who previously participated in programs of non-formal education based on the methods of applied theatre. The collected data shows their experiences in participating in the program, the significance of these experiences to their personal, social and professional growth, as well as possible applications in their lives. The analysis of the data and its correlation to other research and displayed theoretical concepts leads to the conclusion that applied theatre as a form, a method and a process of non-formal education benefits the empowerment and emancipation of young adults in many ways and eases the process of their transition into adulthood.