HOW IT ORIGINATED:
‘Theatre For Change’ began as a discussion between State Theatre Company South Australia and The Road Home and in 2019 received funding from The Office for Ageing Well to run a pilot program. Jo Stone and Paulo Castro were approached by State Theatre Company South Australia to put in a workshop proposal for the program with an anticipated start date of September 2019.
OUR EXPERIENCE:
The original proposal was designed to be responsive to the pathways taken by the participants and has developed into a space for creating a collaborative new script. It became clear the participants have an incredible ability to write. We have seen a huge evolution and commitment and are constantly surprised by the beautiful offerings of writing and material. It has been a humbling journey for both myself and Paulo with these amazing people and I believe nutritious and fruitful work for all of us. We are very excited and honored to help guide the beginning drafts of a new work.
MENTAL HEALTH AND ART:
Global Conference for PTSD: As a part of this journey, Jo was fortunate enough to attend the Global Conference for PTSD an afternoon and sat in on the key note speakers and panels on the role Sport and Art play in healing trauma. David Wiseman spoke about the ‘narrative’ of the ‘changed’ as opposed to the ‘broken’, and how emotive stories are the most published as they are effective for fundraising and entertainment. He spoke about the importance of not treating VETS as a resource or commodity that belongs to a brand ie: Recovery Narrative. Paulo and I are very clear that the work we are doing is not therapy driven. We don’t want these sessions to be focused on recovery of trauma, but a space to share stories, reflect and create whatever participants are interested in. By default, theatre practice allows space for stories to be told, shared, feelings to be utilized and it is celebrated and at the heart of the practice.
12 THE LAST POST – 2020 SUMMER EDITION
