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Chubu WEEKLY Vol.5 No.12 July.8 - July.22, 1999.

Dramatic seminar deals with bullying

By John E. Gibson

The Chubu Weekly

NAGOYA - A seminar that focused on dramatic alternatives to dealing with bullying seem to hit home with the 75 participants who attended the forum last month at the Nagoya Congress Center. England's Andrew Hickson, a director and writer who specializes in interactive drama techniques that help participants better understand relationships, staged a sometimes dramatic and thoroughly enlightening forum entitled, "Preventing Bullying through Drama," put on by the British Council, Nagoya on June 25. Hickson focused on three theatrical techniques - psychodrama, drama therapy and Theater of the Oppressed - that he uses to help individuals better deal with bullying. "People who go to the theater and view the theater, in whatever form it takes, are moved by it," Hickson said. "Theater can bring about change," said Hickson, who also stressed that theatrical settings have a "therapeutic function." At the beginning of the session, which spilled over the allotted two-hour time period, Hickson asked the audience what bullying meant to them. There were about 30 responses, which he said demonstrates that "bullying means different things to different people. And what might work to tackle bullying might be different for all of us."

Hickson, who stressed that sometimes words and actions are essential in conveying messages, simulated a psychodrama session. He said that this method focuses on one person, who plays himself, and includes a group that takes on a supporting role by trying to guide the bullied individual to a solution. Hickson took the time to point out that the difference between psychodrama and drama therapy is that in the latter, the individual with the problem is not identified and a play is chosen so that the group can focus on the problem and not the person involved. He also mentioned that Theater of the Oppressed methods feature a workshop in which participants act out an example of oppression and members of the group can stop the action, take on the role of the protagonist and attempt to resolve the situation. Hickson said that the theater leaves an impression on audiences and the brief examples that Design City residents witnessed left some of them inspired.

"It just opened my eyes to ways that theater can be used in practical situations," said Max Tuefferd, a member of the local acting troupe, the Nagoya Players. "The changing of roles gives bullies an idea of what it feels like," said Masami Ono, an elementary school teacher in Aichi. "Using these kinds of methods, which include actions, can help both sides understand the problem of bullying," Ono said.

Andrew Hickson has helped me to expand my skills. We are all indebted to him for distilling his knowledge and offering it to us with such clarity. Dr Robert Sillman on the Groupwork Manual 1997.

The following article appeared in Avenues Magazine September 1999: (it takes a few minutes to load)

"Silent Scream was vibrant, powerful, stimulating and imaginative" - Teacher Aylon School

"We really enjoyed hosting the show...the results were indicative of the high quality of the writing and the performance" - Education Officer Albany Theatre Deptford

"The best show I have ever seen" - Theo, St Davids School

"Thank you for giving us a most entertaining and educational afternoon at both schools" - Deputy Principal Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College

"It was excellent...we learnt how to stop a person getting bullied" - Khorus - St Pauls Way School

"A lively, energetic and thought-provoking performance... it was great how everyone got involved in the workshop" - Teacher Mallory School

"Excellent show... I particularly liked the energy and commitment of the group leader to the subject and his ability to respond to the students... a nice balance of show and workshop" - Observer Spare Tyre Theatre Co.

"Silent Scream was explosive, effective, thought-provoking, amusing and artistic. It captivated me thoughout, thank you." - Mark, Student at Churchfield School