A Celebration of Ritual Theatre
a Ritual Theatre event
29th June 2012
7-10pm
(This event has taken place, see the ritual theatre blog for photographs and memories of this event)
To celebrate the publication of the new book:
Ritual Theatre: the power of dramatic ritual in personal development groups and clinical practice published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers in 2012.
The intention of this unique event is to inspire, enlighten and entertain about the power of ritual theatre and why its currently going through a rebirth in theatre and society.
The evening will consist of presentations, performances and ritual theatre experiences focusing on the important role ritual theatre once played and its relevance to contemporary life.
We will also be sharing about the work being done in hospitals, prisons, schools etc and will be giving you a taste of what ritual theatre can achieve – with an opportunity to experience some for yourself.
The Celebration will include:
Drumming by Tom Morley (founder of Instant Team Work)
Presentations by the book’s UK contributors:
Dr Sue Jennings (founder of dramatherapy, performer, anthropologist and author): Anthropology and the Roots of Ritual Theatre
Claire Schrader (editor, dramatherapist, playwright and founder of myth-a-drama ) : The Rebirth of Ritual Theatre in Society
Roger Grainger (dramatherapist, actor, chaplain and author) : Ritual Theatre and Existential Change working with Schizophrenia
Debra Colkett (dramatherapist, actor) : Connecting with the Divine Feminine – Ritual theatre in Forensic Psychiatry
Thalia Valeta (dramatherapist and founder of metamyth) : Metamyth – Ritual theatre in Epilepsy
Performances/Demonstrations:
“The Cosmic Celebration”, a ritual theatre performance performed world-wide, directed by Saphira Linden et al (see Chapter 18)
Sue Jennings will be demonstrating the healing practices of the Senoi Temiar people of Malaysia as well as describing the remarkable healing of her younger son by one of the great Temiar shamans.
King Lear In Real Life – performance from a ritual theatre performance of King Lear.
A Ritual Theatre Journey (you will be invited to participate in a short ritual theatre journey) with drumming by Tom Morley
This event would be of especial interest to you if you’re interested in healing, theatre, the arts, creativity or self-expression, or are a therapist, drama therapist, counselor, performer, director, theatre practitioner or student.
Where: The Spectator (Downstairs)
6 Little Britain,
City,
London,
EC1A 7BX
Date: 29th June
Times: 7.00-10pm
Tube: St Paul’s
Entrance: £10 (includes a £4.99 voucher towards purchasing a book at the event)
For book info see:
http://www.makingmoves.net/2011/12/new-book-ritual-theatre-as-a-theatre-of-healing/
See an interview with editor, Claire Schrader about this book.
Biographies
Sue Jennings’ career in professional theatre, play and dramatherapy, and social anthropology spans over 50 years. She is currently Honorary Fellow of Roehampton University, President of the Romanian Association of Play Therapy and Dramatherapy, Founder Member of the British Association of Dramatherapists and Dramatherapy Association of the Czech Republic. She is Honorary Advisor to WCCL (India) for their Arts become Healing training, and to the Irish Association of Play Therapy. In 2002 she was awarded the Gertrude Schattner Plaque for ‘Excellence in Practice and Education in Drama Therapy’. She has published over 30 books, including Introduction to Developmental Playtherapy: Playing and Health and Introduction to Dramatherapy: Theatre and Healing – Ariadne’s Ball of Thread published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Claire Schrader is director of Making Moves, a personal development company offering ritual theatre workshops and programmes since 1997. She developed “myth-a-drama”, using ritual theatre for personal and professional development, and currently offers her work in the UK, Northern California, the Netherlands, Portugal and Greece. Before qualifying as a dramatherapist in 1995, she was a performer, playwright, and director of devised theatre in UK drama schools. For six years she was co-ordinator of the performance programme at The Studio Upstairs where she developed and directed numerous therapeutic performance projects.
Roger Grainger is a dramatherapist and chartered psychologist. His roots are in the professional theatre, but his work reflects his deep interest in psychotherapy, dramatherapy, theology and sociology. His latest books are Suspending Disbelief (2009) and The Uses of Chaos (2010). His research into rites of passage won him a Doctorate of Divinity at London University in 1989 and he is currently researching group experiences with North-West University, South Africa.
Debra Colkett BA Hons, PG Dip, SRAT (Drama) has worked in a variety of healthcare settings in both NHS and Private Healthcare. She has 10 years experience in all areas of Mental Health including, OPMH (Older People Mental Health) Dementia, Adult Mental Health, Forensic, Adolescents, Children with Emotional and behavioural problems, children traumatized by Tsunami in Sri Lanka. Debra continues to work with BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) and adults with enduring mental health issues. She also works in Private Practise and leads seminars and workshops both in the UK, USA and Sri Lanka. She is a guest lecturer at Richmond University for Psychology undergraduate students. Previous published work: chapters 7 (Play and Playing) and 8 (Role) in Drama as Theatre: Theatre as Living Vol II (2007) edited by Dr. Phil Jones.
Thalia Valeta is an actress, a writer and a registered HPC dramatherapist. She has created metamyth, an innovative method of therapy through the arts which is based on dramatherapy and mythology. Thalia has worked with children and their families in schools and neuropsychiatric units in England and in Greece and with old people. She is a researcher at St Thomas Hospital London and is associated with the Archives of Performances of Ancient Greek and Roman Drama and the Greek ministry of culture. She lectures for the Global Campaign Against Epilepsy presenting her research. She offers metamyth workshops internationally.
