Applied Drama is an umbrella term for the wider use of drama practice in a specific social context and environment. This practice doesn't have to take place in a conventional theatre space. It can be shared with, or created for, a specific audience, making them the starting point and the driving force for what is often a personal based exploration. Applied Drama can be a therapeutic medium, using narrative and both real or imagined story as a tool to examine shared experiences through a dramatic framework. It uses symbols, role play and improvisational theatre to allow us a point of entry into the 'self', and as a vehicle for exploring the relationship between knowledge and action. What the audience perceives and contributes categorises the very nature of Applied Drama, for example, Theatre in Education (TIE), Drama in Education (DIE), Community Drama and Prison Theatre. It requires the participants to be willing, truthful and honest, tapping into feelings to provoke responses and sometimes to encourage change.
External sources
- Drama Techniques Description of educational drama techniques
- The Far Games Educational drama and improvisation games
