Social Capacity Building through Applied Theatre: Developing Imagination, Emotional and Reflective Skills in the Human Services (Learning Through Theatre)

As experts in both applied theatre and education, Au Yi-Man and John O’Toole outline how applied theatre techniques can be used to support workers in the human services to develop crucial skills such as resilience, imagination, critical thinking, and reflection.

Highlighting under-emphasised skills and qualities in the human services professions, this book combines theory with context-specific practice to support capacity building across sectors. Drawing on a detailed study of NGO workers learning to use applied theatre techniques in professional development, the book offers insight into the learning and experiences of the participants and how these can be applied to future training programs. The book also provides a deeper understanding of how adult learners, from different backgrounds and levels of experience, approach their professional training. Rich with resources, the book features complete course examples, including theatre of the oppressed, process drama, and educational theatre, as core drama techniques.

Opening up new opportunities for applied theatre practitioners and educators, this book is a must-read for teachers in any human services field intending to use drama or applied theatre in their training.

Au Yi-Man is a practitioner, trainer, and researcher in applied theatre and drama education, the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Drama/Theatre and Education Forum (TEFO) and is on the editorial committee of The Journal of Drama and Education in Asia (DaTEAsia).

John O'Toole is an Honorary Professor and former Chair of Arts Education at the University of Melbourne, Australia and was lead author of the arts subject area of the Australian National Curriculum.