THE NEED FOR TRAUMA INFORMED THEATRE PRACTICE

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Navigating the tension between pushing for exciting creative outcomes in theatre while looking after the wellbeing of the people involved has never been more present.  It understandably can feel like a minefield. Many people I have worked with have expressed their concerns that trying to create safe environments can sometimes create more anxiety.

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This practice uses trauma informed principles (Harris & Fallot), mentalisation theory (Fonaghey and Bateman) and systems theory (Parsons).

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Trauma informed theatre practice is:

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• the application of psychological theory and practice to enhance the creative process

• a skills-based approach to maximise safety and inspire artists to leave their comfort zones

• a way of enabling people to look after themselves and others in the creative process

• a practical framework to help creative teams understand and negotiate the complex human interactions that can enable or inhibit artistic environments

• a shared language to support communication through the creative process

• a way to reach deeper levels of characterisation, narrative and relational connectivity by applying psychological explanations of human functioning

• a structure that respects diversity and individuality in creative approaches

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Trauma informed theatre practice is not:

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• artistically rigid or bland 

• a short-term solution to unacceptable conduct

• a tick-box exercise

• a reactive or ‘knee-jerk’ approach

• therapy

• a way to avoid confronting inevitable relational challenges or difficult feelings necessary to the creative process

• a way to criticise or punish

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