All of our workshops and training programmes use theatre and drama. Why?
We believe there is a correlation between an actor learning a part and a person learning a new skill or behaviour. When an actor first reads their part in a play, they know very little about the role so they aren’t very believable. They need to rehearse or practice the part. After some time the actor has learnt the lines and is beginning to put the physical actions to them, but they still seem uncertain and the portrayal of the character is not completely convincing. They go away and practice more and more, trying different voices and movements. They also begin to think about the motivations of the character. Eventually the actor is feeling comfortable in the role and the audience is convinced by what they see.
This process is very similar to the process of learning a new skill. If instructions on how to be assertive are written down, a person may well understand them in theory. However, they can only learn or develop that skill effectively if they are given the opportunity to practice - in the same way that the actor rehearses a part in a play.
Our workshops are experiential, interactive, challenging and fun. We believe that people learn best by doing – that they need to be given the opportunity to try things out in a safe and supportive environment.
We actively encourage people to take risks and make mistakes in our workshops. We all learn when we get it wrong and we never forget the experience. Participants attending our workshops may initially be worried that we might show them up or get them to “do acting”. In our experience, this anxiety does not last long and before they know it they are having a great time developing new and existing skills.
It is proven that people learn best in a relaxed and happy atmosphere and this is exactly the atmosphere our workshops create.
All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages.
William Shakespeare, As You Like It, Act 2, Scene 7
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