The drama spiral: A decision-making model for safe, ethical, and flexible practice when incorporating personal stories in applied theatre and performance

Abstract

This chapter examines the risks, responsibilities, and ethics associated with applied theatre and performance when personal stories are used. The chapter begins with a discussion of the proliferation in recent decades of theatrical forms based on personal stories and real events. This is followed by an analysis of the risks and vulnerabilities inherent in theatre that is drawn from the personal life experiences of participants. I then offer guidelines for ethical practice based on this analysis and explain a model I have developed, emerging from a broad synthesis of ideas, called the Drama Spiral. This is a model that is intended as a practical tool for facilitators negotiating the complex, contested, and inherently risky terrain of personal stories.