Identity, Performance and Social Action

Theatre Methodology

WHY THEATRE

The idea of using theatre as a research tool stemmed from the experiences and reflections of the researchers working with community groups. We were inspired by the concept of theatre as a special space which can function as a magnifying glass where social situations can be explored in more detail. We used two theatre methods for this research project, Playback and Forum Theatre.

In Playback Theatre the audience tell stories based on their own experiences that are then ‘played back’ to them by actors on stage. There is a performative and narrative dialogue, as each story which follows complements, contrasts and emphasises different aspects of the previous one. So in this way there is a progressive multi directional accumulation during the performance of different views on the narrative themes.

In Forum Theatre  the creation of the performance, followed by multiple interventions, by stepping on the stage, replacing the protagonist and changing the course of the action, makes the personal stories social as every subject adds to the story something of their own identity and action.  We use Image techniques, where the bodies of the participants are treated as clay to create image representations of different concepts. These corporeal installations can be used as a projective focal point where the participants can address and analyse social relationships. 

 The theatre methods allow an amount of creativity that give the flexibility to apply them in different contexts and adjust them to the needs of the groups we are working with.

Playback and Forum as research methods.

Two Playback performances were used at the beginning with each group to highlight the importance of and to celebrate the participants’ stories, as well as, to introduce them to the process of making theatre based on personal stories. We proceeded with Forum where the participants were the performers and the commentators on the themes presented.

Theatre methods used in the research had the following impact on;

Research Space

The research space opens up when using theatre methods, as the participants can relate directly to each other and the researchers, where they start to move physically, where they act on their own accord and where they start working as a group without mediation. So the research space becomes a theatre space and vice versa.   

Research Relationships

The researcher, as Playback actor, shares first her own stories and then performing the participants’ narratives with their immediate responses. As a facilitator, she laughs with them, inspires them to act and devises with them Forum scenes.

Participants'  Narratives

The theatre methods used generate a rich tapestry of narrative. Through Playback we heard illustrative narratives focusing on the core themes of the refugee lives in London which were unlike the ones one would hear in interviews of life histories. In Forum Theatre the narratives were of a projective nature, collective, embodied and performative.

Interviews

The playback and Forum Theatre narratives and actions of the members of the group are brought and reflected upon in the individual interviews. The playback and Forum theatre stories give a focus and create the themes and questions for the interview. There is an organic process from the theatrical space to that of the reflective space in the individual interviews.

Knowledge

Through Playback and Forum Theatre narratives, performances, interventions and reflections the participants with the researchers produced a pool of tactics and a ‘local’ knowledge.

For more details look at forthcoming papers on theatre methodology.

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© 2007