Theatre and research: Bridging the communication divide

The Challenge

Traditional written and verbal methods of disseminating research often limit the impact of findings. This is particularly true for emotional research subjects or topics communicated to multicultural audiences speaking different languages. If research exists to bring about social change, then research must be shared in ways that inspire and mobilize people to action.

Partners

CCBR partners with professional and amateur acting troupes to communicate research findings through dramatic performances.

Innovative Solutions

CCBR collaborates with an acting team to interpret and present research findings. The initiative typically involves three phases:

Script development

CCBR begins by sharing research findings with the theatre producer. The producer begins to draft the initial theatre script based on findings while also integrating the personal experiences of the actors. The script is further refined through discussions that follow preliminary performances.

Performance

The theatre piece is then performed at a variety of events designed to engage stakeholders on the research topic. The emotional impact of the theatre performance allows participants to more deeply experience the issue at hand sparking their imagination for potential response.

Follow-up action

Immediately following the performance, CCBR staff use a variety of facilitation techniques to build practical strategies for change.

One Example

The Other End of the Line Produced and Performed by MT Space, 2006
CCBR is the lead organization for TakingCulture Seriously in Community Mental Health, a five year, 40 partner Community University Research Alliance (CURA).

The project conducted two years of exploratory research on the mental health experiences of diverse multicultural communities and their relationship with the Canadian mental health system. CCBR then commissioned MT Space, a professional multicultural theatre company based in Kitchener, Ontario, to create a 15 minute theatre presentation on CURA research findings.

The result was a high energy presentation performed by five actors and two musicians that is both heart-wrenching and humorous. The multi-lingual vignettes offered inspiring glimpses into the sensitive and often taboo topic of mental health.

The presentations have been performed at a series of CCBR-organized events designed to stimulate discussions on creating more culturally responsive mental health policy and practice. Audience members included mental health practitioners, mental health policy-makers and diverse cultural-linguistic community members.

A sample of audience responses:

"Incredible is too mild a term to describe the performance. Very powerful: Needs to be shared with the general public as advocacy/awareness campaign."

"The theatre performance was outstanding!! Please find another opportunity to showcase this."

"Excellent! Brought tears to my eyes and lots of laughter."

"Touched me deep, at the bottom of my heart. Great! Great!"

Discoveries

Theatre has the potential to communicate beyond mere words inspiring an emotional response that motivates people to action. Social action is fuelled as much by passion and emotion (responding from the heart), as it is by intellect (responding from the head). Sharing research through creative means such as drama allow the findings to sink in on deeper levels.

-written by Rich Janzen