“Everyone should perform their name in an improvisational way to make it vivid.” During an experiential session of a drama therapy-themed activity held in Beijing, participants were asked to interpret their names through theatrical performance. Later, they split into groups to engage in interactive segments like “What you most want to say to your parents if you return to childhood” and “Show your most failed moment.” Through role-playing, improvisation, and interactive games, they released emotions and expressed their feelings.
Drama therapy is a drama-based method of emotional transformation. It aims to reduce stress, integrate emotions, and promote personal growth through role-playing, drama games, and improvisational performance techniques such as simulated farces and puppet shows. The core of drama therapy lies not in speaking but in performing. Through role substitution, participants can truly reveal their emotions; the integration of singing and performing movements in drama can effectively channel their emotions. This approach provides people with a more immersive and expressive artistic experience and healing path.
Meanwhile, drama therapy continues to explore integration with stage art. In Beijing, some innovative plays with drama therapy elements have emerged, bringing profound reflections and touches to the audience.
In August 2024, the stage play “What’s Wrong with You?” premiered at the Gulou West Theater in Beijing. With mental health as its theme, the play focuses on the depression community. The actors all have experiences of mental health issues to varying degrees, including students, artists, freelancers, and professionals engaged in mental health medical work. The content of the play is derived from their personal experiences and presented to the audience through monologues and other forms. “The difficulty of performing this play is not only going on stage itself but also exposing one’s vulnerable side to the audience for the first time. So, I think all the actors are particularly brave,” said Kouzi, the planner of *”What’s Wrong with You?”*
In the view of Zang Ce, an independent curator, the healing function of drama is not just emotional catharsis. When the thoughts accumulated in the heart are externalized through language and limbs, “I” is transformed into an “object.” The inner monologues from individuals converge into a polyphonic resonance on the stage, and this same-frequency resonance can also soothe the inner thoughts.
The activity forms of drama therapy also include on-site learning and experience. In June this year, the Gulou West Theater held a series of night school activities, including a sharing session on drama therapy, a drama therapy workshop, and a drama therapy experience class. The sharing session mainly introduced the theory and development process of drama therapy, aiming to help participants better understand this method; the workshop provided more practical operation opportunities; the experience class allowed participants to personally experience the charm of drama therapy through games, training, role-playing, and other forms. For example, there was a segment in the activity where a participant shared his story, and then others interpreted the emotional levels in the story to express complex emotional experiences. This form not only enhanced the participants’ understanding of drama therapy but also made them have emotional connections and resonance in the interaction.
Drama therapy helps change participants’ thinking patterns and behavior patterns through interpretation. “We encourage participants to show their emotional states through performance, including positive and negative emotions, to help them deal with emotions more effectively and ultimately achieve self-healing and growth,” said Li Taocui, the manager of the night school activities at the Gulou West Theater. “When we encounter difficulties or conflicts with others, we may not be able to express ourselves in time, or our performance may not satisfy ourselves. If we can return to that scene and re-interpret it, we will have the opportunity to deal with it in different ways, correct past mistakes, and adjust our response patterns.”
“Drama is just a form, and healing is the purpose,” Li Taocui said. The healing effect can be achieved through the expression of drama. By fully engaging in the drama experience, participants can release their subconscious, face the real self hidden in the subconscious, improve physical and mental flexibility and freedom, and finally achieve the goal of healing.
Related topics:
Autism in Adults Tied to Higher Mental Health Hospitalization Rates
Students Accuse Universities of Failing on Mental Health: Who Bears the Blame?
