Drama as Social Intervention

Abstract

Theatre and drama have emerged as valuable tools for facilitating social change. The 5th International Conference on Researching Drama and Theatre Education held at the University of Exeter, England in 2005 adopted “Drama As Social Intervention” as its theme. This invaluable resource, Drama As Social Intervention, is the result of the debates, presentations and papers delivered at the conference.

Divided into three parts, Part One showcases four keynote papers. The first paper offers an overview of 'hard' interventionist theatre activity in Belfast and Sheffield. The second considers the power and significance of personal stories as change agents, while the third describes an original interactive theatre program that toured England for six months, educating about and lessening the stigma towards psychosis. Part One closes with a critique of the fundamental principles embedded in the use of interventionist theatre. Part Two consists of 15 additional chapters that are written by researchers, academics, and practitioners from around the world, with topics that span a variety of theatre and drama usages in international contexts. Part Three consists of abstracts from all the other international contributors.

Drama As Social Intervention brings together a wealth of research in a variety of practical contexts and theoretical papers that raise important issues on drama as social intervention. The book will be essential reading for students, practitioners, teachers and researchers who wish to understand more about this topic.