Type

Text

Type

Thesis

Advisor

John Lutterbie.

Date

2011-05-01

Keywords

Drama Therapy, Theatre Theory | Theater -- Theater History

Department

Department of Dramaturgy

Language

en_US

Source

This work is sponsored by the Stony Brook University Graduate School in compliance with the requirements for completion of degree.

Identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/11401/71682

Publisher

The Graduate School, Stony Brook University: Stony Brook, NY.

Format

application/pdf

Abstract

In Chapter X of Plato's Republic, he describes the theatre as a barrier that blocks individuals from truth and knowledge. As a dramaturg, my life's work is based on the belief that theatre is a platform in which the truth about the human condition is expressed, through fictional characters and stories. As a theatre artist, I believe in the transformative aspect of theatre. As I contemplated Plato's theory, I thought about individuals who are suffering from severe psychopathologies, such as schizophrenia. These individuals live in their own unique realities. Could theatre be used as a way of showing these individuals' truth, and if so, would it be therapeutic for them? These questions lead me to my thesis question: can participating in and observing the creative process of theatre bring out an individual's ideal truth? This thesis discusses theatre history and theory that begin to discover and explore the therapeutic and transformative aspects of theatre, which led to the creation of drama therapy. I also discuss four current approaches in drama therapy. Through the exploration of theatre and drama therapy, I am most certain that participating in and observing the creative process of theatre brings out an individual's ideal truth.

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.