Masks, DramaTherapy and Sociodrama

Sound Architect uses a variety of techniques to engage with participants, for example-multi media opportunities (film, photography and digital music), and drama, where we use Masks, DramaTherapy and Sociodrama. Most of our projects link directly with SEAL and PHSE initiatives within schools as they are relevant to many social and health issues for young people that will occur during SEAL and PHSE agendas.

Masks

The use of the mask, for all ages of students, psychologically allows speakers to become someone else. These experiential programmes:

• Provide ‘safety’ for the mask wearer.
• Enable them to speak through another’s voice.
• Allow them to forget inhibitions or weaknesses.
• Enable them to examine issues in the third person.
• Develop the ability for individuals to express what they feel, practice clear speech and take a chance by behaving out of their own true character.
• Bring out the creativity of individuals who may not dare undertake certain activities without a disguise or cover.
• Assist participants in reaching deeper levels self-awareness.
• Empower the individual to see things differently, and facilitates change in perception.

Drama

Drama is firmly grounded in the use of the body to skilfully communicate ideas and emotions through movement and gesture. Drama applied with young people can assist participants in developing and refining ability to use and interpret body language- a vital social skill.An understanding of 'body' can lead to a greater sense of self. The body is the vessel in which our physical sense of self is contained.Drama can enhance participant’s expressive range of mobility, providing an outlet for emotion. Repression of emotion can have negative effects on the growth of personality.

Educationally, Drama can improve cognition through developing an understanding from a greater perspective than just the conventional intellectual.

Drama, notably creative drama, creative movement and mime are 'emotionally centred' approaches. In order to communicate satisfactorily in life, the individuals must feel free to express themselves.

Drama is a unique tool to explore and express human feeling and an essential form of behaviour in all cultures; it is a fundamental human activity.

Drama has the potential, as a diverse medium, to enhance cognitive, affective and motor development. A high degree of thinking, feeling and moving is involved and subsequently aids in the development of skills for all other learning within and outside of schools (transfer of learning).

We use two different techniques within our sessions- DramaTherapy and Sociodrama.

Sociodrama

 ‘Sociodrama’; (making plays about social issues) is based on the learning principles, which are relevant to the concerns and views of others; it draws on other people's experiences and engages with social, political and economic issues. By actually taking on roles, the student can come to 'feel' what it is like to be in a situation.

‘Sociodrama’ expands the participant’s view of the world by exploring with them the real issues affecting them directly, and thereby society generally. We examine with participants the issues relevant to them and explore together how situations and issues can be looked at differently.

Dramatherapy

Dramatherapy is creative drama workshops combining drama and therapy, which helps to form a bridge between the art form of theatre and the healing power of drama itself. It is about creating drama and fiction as a way to helping people to understand themselves in new ways.

Dramatherapy offers permission to play, free from the restraint of text and performance whilst also acting as a container for personal feelings. Dramatherapy provides a creative vehicle for the transformation of feelings, aiding spontaneity and the development of the imagination. It is a creative medium and a space in which to temporarily escape the confines of everyday reality within a safe and permissible environment. Dramatic statements are made through the use of metaphor and symbolic images as a way to extending existing boundaries and to gain insight. Through the re-enactment and exaggeration of our inhabited roles, we can begin to recognise which are real and appropriate to our lives now, and adapt them in a spontaneous manner.

Play is an essential part of Dramatherapy, for the imagination allows us to play our way into relationships. The real world still exists while we journey inward to explore the multiple realities of our lives, but when we return from our journey of creative discovery, our perception will have altered allowing for greater strength and freedom when dealing with emotional issues, aiding spontaneity and the discovery of both personal freedom and boundaries.  

Our programmes consist of a combination of counselling and active learning techniques, working with and through the body, using guided imagery, sculpting, role-play and projective play. Depending on the needs of the participant(s), sessions can also be non-verbal, involving art or creative writing and movement.