A research report submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (Drama Therapy) November 2017 / The research consists of a practical arts-based research component and a research report that surveys
the practice. This document serves as the written element of the research and investigates the key
theoretical standpoints, methodologies applied and creative outcomes.
The research aimed to explore the dynamics of adults and play within Drama Therapy by investigating
the relationship between six adult women and their personal play histories. It questioned what play
meant to the individual and invited her to share her most memorable playful moments through
various forms of expression in a number of individual interview-discussions.
Through a practical arts-based research approach, an ethnographic narrative inquiry unfolded about
women, play, childhood memory and present adulthood. The research took these shared narratives
and presented them back to the six participants through various playful methods. With the use of
methodologies such as inter-subjectivity, playful listening, narrative enquiry and Playback Theatre, the
research offered a series of representational reflections of the shared stories. The creative outcomes
were presented in a storybook representation which used imagery and poetic rhyme to document
each narrative, a stop-motion film that used moving image and voice, and an presentation-installation
that invited each woman to engage with her playful inner-self reflected back to her. The report is
written with these playful elements which attempt to mirror the creative representational outcomes,
inviting the reader to access his or her playful self.
Thematically, three key factors presented themselves throughout the five-stage research process.
These include the emotional experience associated with play, the notion of an inner-child or childhood
and play within context. All three elements are discussed in the research report, with the use of the
contextual factor symbolised by road signs to represent the intersectionality of play and its
relationship to the individual.
The research presents a number of key contributing factors to the discussion of adults and play in
Drama Therapy. It attempts to explore alternative ways of delving into therapeutic process while
respecting individual perspectives and personal narratives. It highlights the fundamental value of play
within a drama therapeutic paradigm and how the notion of play and play memories contribute to the
adult self. It also affirms the role of arts-based practice as a powerful tool for validation and witnessing
of clients. / XL2018
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:wits/oai:wiredspace.wits.ac.za:10539/24433 |
| Date | January 2017 |
| Creators | Kersh, Yael Sara |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | Online resource (v, 132 leaves), application/pdf, application/pdf |
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