In Their Own Words: Exploring the Methodology and Ethics of Ethnotheatre in Qualitative Dementia Research

Abstract

This article discusses the development of two short plays based on qualitative data from separate research studies related to dementia, both of which were performed in the UK in 2022. The first drama (Voices from the front line) is a relatively standard piece of verbatim theatre, based on interview data and written accounts from a research study about the experiences of the dementia workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020–22. The second (The Other Side of the Wall) is based on ethnographic data from a research study carried out with people with dementia living in long-term care, and it introduces elements of invention and absurdism. In both pieces, non-professional actors co-developed the performances, drawing on the spoken words of the original research participants. Using extracts and examples from the script development process, the article attempts to chart the developmental process for a novice ethnodramatist (although experienced dementia researcher) in meeting ethical, aesthetic and methodological challenges.