Having a go yourself

Individuals can get the opportunity to 'play' and test out their communication skills by getting right into the action, working on a one to one scenario with an actor.

This gives people the opportunity to test and refine their skills against a ‘real’ situation. Don’t worry, you can play yourself (no need to play a character or learn lines.) Let the actors be who you want them to be.

This can either be done as a part of a training session using forum theatre or in any other circumstances where you would like to use actors in role.

In a group training environment, it is preferable for the most effective results, to precede any use of one to one's with   forum theatre, so that the group are put at ease as to the role-play process and that they are clear that is safe and encouraging. 

Let's explain what this is like.

James works for a bank. He's at the theatre one night and is watching a play about a character who has a similar job to his own. The characters have played out a scenario familiar to James. The director has stopped the action and introduced the audience to the idea of forum theatre, whereby they have become involved in discussing the scene with the characters. Having evolved strategies to tackle the issues inherent within the scene, this time the director asks if anyone would like to role-play with one of the characters. This will be in a scene in which an audience member has the chance to 'play' with their own communication skills, in a scenario particular to themseves. Having seen how much he has already learned from the process and that suggestions from the audience are supportive, thanks to the encouragement of the director, James thinks’ I’m going to take the opportunity to have a go. When will I get a chance like this again'? James plays himself and is surprised how authentic the situation is with the actor playing oppposite him. It feels like a real meeting. They stop and start the scene giving time for the audience to suggest ways for James to try alternaitve approaches and improve.