> Workshop: Religion/spirituality and dramatherapy, tensions and harmonies: drama-based research

Workshop: Religion/spirituality and dramatherapy, tensions and harmonies: drama-based research

Sunday 29 November 2020
12:30 to 13:30

The session will start with a  presentation of Mandy Carr’s current doctoral research, exploring whether dramatherapists feel able to express their religious, belief, faith or spiritual identities within the profession.  Given that religion is a protected characteristic in the Equalities Act 2010 ( http://www.legislation.gov.uk ), there may be important implications if the research reveals that this key aspect of identity is unconsciously overlooked, repressed or discouraged.

The religious/spiritual aspects of self which are the focus of this study, can be hard to put in words.  Behar sees ‘the larger desire to speak from a deeper part of ourselves’ as ‘the goal of all artistic expression.’ (2008, p60). Perhaps drama-based enquiry can elicit a depth of material that may be impossible through words alone.

Mandy will discuss how she facilitated drama-based research based on Augusto Boal’s techniques, particularly imagework. His underlying philosophy of equality and democracy, echoes her research methodology. The approach is phenomenological and every interpretation equally valid. Augusto Boal commented, ‘there are no misreadings, only multiple readings.’ (xx, 1995)

She will also present the preliminary findings from her research. Finally, the group will be asked to consider the implications of the material, reflecting creatively and through discussion.

References

Behar, R., 2008. Between Poetry and Anthropology: searching for language of home. In: Cahnmann-Taylor, M., and Siegesmund, R., eds. Arts-Based Research in Education: Foundations for Practice. New York and Abingdon, Oxon., Routledge.

Boal, A., 1995. Translated by Jackson, A. The Rainbow of Desire. London and New York. Routledge.

References

  • Behar, R., 2008. Between Poetry and Anthropology: searching for language of home. In: Cahnmann-Taylor, M., and Siegesmund, R., eds. Arts-Based Research in Education: Foundations for Practice. New York and Abingdon, Oxon., Routledge.
  • Boal, A., 1995. Translated by Jackson, A. The Rainbow of Desire. London and New York. Routledge.

This session is being recorded.

Mandy Carr is a dramatherapist, trainer and clinical supervisor. Previously a senior lecturer in dramatherapy and convenor of the BADth Equality and Diversity Sub-Committee, she is currently a student on the professional doctorate programme offered by the Cambridge Theological Federation in partnership with Anglia Ruskin University. Publications include 2018 'Dramatherapy and Religion: (Un) comfortable Bedfellows? In Honour of Dr Roger Grainger' (with Ditty Dokter) Dramatherapy 39, No.1, pp.16-28, Routledge.