Experienced drama workers are using performance and applied drama techniques to engage with adults who have mental health issues, substance misuse issues and/or a long term health condition. As a result, individuals have addressed their own barriers to work or further learning in a safe, supportive and creative space, leading to many returning to employment or college.
The Change for Good project started with a short performance to inspire and motivate adults into taking action. It investigated possible reasons why people can’t engage in learning and employment, explored the barriers stopping people to move forward and offered potential coping strategies.
All the characters were drawn from consultation with clients of Doncaster Alcohol Service and so were recognisable to the audience. The audience were able to ask the ‘characters’ questions, give them advice and soon the group were exploring alternatives outcomes.
During the Real Skills for Real Opportunities project we developed the use of story by focusing on life narratives and narrative identity. We’ve learnt that for participants to imagine an alternative story they need to feel separated from their current situation, so we created fictional characters that shared some of the circumstances of the target group to give everyone the chance to explore their own narrative.
The group quickly learned that we can’t change how others behave towards us, but we can change how we respond. Artists also passed on a toolkit so participants were better equipped to manage a wide range of situations that they experienced in their daily lives, as well as using drama to play out some scenarios they may face and then struggle with at work.
During both projects facts about a character’s life were revealed in a variety of ways… Different objects and artefacts were discovered and interpreted by the group, the group ‘overheard’ conversations, telephone calls and arguments.
Drama workers aim to deepen the artistic experience is deepened each week – sessions become more challenging and require more creative engagement from the participants. For example later in projects, participants may create and perform internal monologues, create soundscapes, start building up a set for a character or depict on a back drop a visualisation of thoughts and words that have been said.
Artists will use Forum Theatre with the group to start, run and stop a scene so participants see how a character can react in different ways to a situation, analyse the thoughts that lead to a behaviour and then the chance to insist on a change in the character’s behaviour. Participants sometimes become ‘performers’ themselves, trying out different roles, physically depicting stories and relationships.
The impact on participants has been impressive because we tailor our approach to respond to the group’s needs and interests and allow them to move forward at their own pace.
Each group we’ve worked with have shown a clear increase in confidence, self esteem and aspiration. They have developed social and communication skills and demonstrate improved motivation and emotional resilience giving them the ability to overcome new challenges.
