Rational Madness offers a wide range of short courses and learning programmes, either standalone, or integrated with our theatre performances which focus on using the skills of theatre in working life. For example, the release and use of effective speaking and improvising.

Theatre-based training and development

Frequently asked Questions

What is theatre-based training?

Theatre based training falls into two main categories. The first is Skill Development, often focused on communication and presentation skills, but also more recently on Leadership Skills. The skills of performance – being a good speaker, being confident, being a good communicator are all skills that excellent actors and performers need. These then are transferable into a business or organisational context. Learning how to voice project, to be a good improviser, to be a good listener, a team player, are just some examples. The use of Role Play allows participants to step into different roles, experiment with new behaviours and practice new skills in a safe learning environment.

What is theatre based development?

Theatre-based development combined a mixture of change management, consultancy, facilitation and the use of theatre methods such as role play and forum theatre to help an organisation to realise a goal, address an issue, solve problems, move a change programme forward. It’s an interactive approach that is in the spirit of “All the world’s a stage”. In forum theatre participants can interact with characters and watch and co-create scenes which “play out” issues related to the business challenges identified. Role Play allows participants to step into roles to explore different attitudes and behaviours, to experiment and to explore different scenarios. Sometimes arts-based developers use direct performance combined with reflection and discussion to inspire thinking about change and development..

What is role play?

Role Play allows participants to step into roles to explore different attitudes and behaviours, to experiment and to explore different scenarios. Sometimes arts-based developers use direct performance combined with reflection and discussion to inspire thinking about change and development. It can be used in different learning and development situations to allow new behaviours and skills to be tried out. It is participative and interactive. Role Play can be done clumsily and you should take care to find a well referenced provider. It is something dreaded by some people who fear being dragged onto the stage! Not all role play requires everyone to take part. It can be done in smaller groups and need not put people into the uncomfortable position of “performing” in front of everyone.
Some good definitions and tips can be found here.

Why do some people hate even the mention of the term “role play”?

Many people, often going back to a bad experience at school, fear the “dreaded role play. Also some trainees cite bad, embarrassing experiences with it. A lot of companies offer role play as part of training who are not really arts-based trainers. It grew out of theatre in schools and social organisations as well as customer care training. Role play can be done skilfully and need not be traumatic or “cringeworthy”. Do your homework on the providers and look for good references. Ideally attend a taster session first.

Some people also hate role play because it is so effective. Effective training may take people into their zone of discomfort. Sometimes you have to take a step backwards to go two forwards later on!

What are the pitfalls of theatre-based training and development?

Theatre based training and development can have an initial powerful impact. However, if the experience of participants is such that they cannot see how to transpose their learning back to the workplace, it will not last beyond the final goodbyes of the workshop! Theatre-based training and development works best when linked to follow-up and real issues at work. That doesn’t have to mean that the “scenes and plays” are all work-related. It does mean that the process of facilitation should be skilful enough to ensure the theatre can be grounded in the reality of working life.

Theatre-based training is often expensive, with the added costs of research, writing, directing and actors fees. However, if linked to real change needs in the organisation, it can be very beneficial.

How do I find a good theatre-based trainer or developer?

Arts and Business lists trainers who have received awards and has case studies on their web site. Look for references and ideally attend a taster session. Look for companies who are not seeing you as just another client to deliver something off the shelf to. Look for those interested in tailoring their work to your organisation’s needs.

How can I ensure that Theatre-based training meets my organisation’s needs?
Many theatre-based training companies and also more mainstream theatre companies offer “off the shelf” training. These are standard courses and workshops which are aimed at specific “generic” topics such as time management, teambuilding, communication and leadership. Within these programmes will be already-designed workshop processes such as the tried and tested methods of role play and forum theatre. There may be off-the-shelf scenes, short plays and sketches focused on these generic subjects. The workshop or training processes may well be flexible DURING the day itself. In some versions of role play, scenes are created on the day itself. However, broadly speaking these off-the-shelf courses are pretty much designed in advance and may well have been tried and tested on previous clients. (Check for references!).

A higher cost option is bespoke training where research and diagnosis is done in advance. The trainers may well visit your organisation, have a tour around the place, speak to managers and staff, and carry out a training needs analysis. Sometimes this can also be offered by a third party such as Arts and Business.

The training is then designed from this research allowing the learning to be targeted on the organisation’s agenda very specifically.
Scenes of theatre may also be written, inspired directly by the organisation, its issues, questions and learning needs. This is obviously more expensive as extra days are required for research, writing and rehearsing. However, where several or more training sessions are required the cost can easily be spread over the many events and the resulting bespoke product can be more effective in terms of relevance and impact.

What is Forum Theatre?

“Forum Theatre is an interactive method that utilises a piece of theatre written specifically for and about your business. It is performed by actors and presented by a facilitator who then encourages the audience to suggest changes, discuss possibilities, influence outcomes, and even take complete control by entering the scenes.
By engaging directly with the audience on a personal level, Forum Theatre stimulates participants to become truly involved in finding and rehearsing solutions to problems. Each Forum Theatre project is created individually to a brief, and designed to address a specific problem or issue. It is created in close collaboration with the commissioning company, and evaluated against agreed performance indicators.”
From http://www.purplemonster.co.uk/forum.htm
A basic definition from a training provider here:
http://www.forumtheatre.com/EffectiveTraining.asp
A case study here: http://www.forumtheatre.com/rac.asp
And here: http://www.forumtheatre.com/ScottishCourage.asp
Another case study here: http://www.purplemonster.co.uk/case_forum.htm

There are also interesting descriptions of different types of forum theatre here:
http://zimbabwe.ms.dk/articles/forumtheatre.htm

How is theatre-based training or development evaluated?

Theatre-based training should be evaluated in the same spirit all training or development. Having clearly defined goals before and assessing impact afterwards is key. Look for tangible examples of how the workshop actions (agreed at the workshop) have been implemented, perhaps with sign-off from those who committed.

Look for examples of use of the training in practice back at work (questionnaires, focus groups). You may wish to build in the cost of independent evaluation. A key principle of good evaluation is to set up key “evaluation points” that capture before, during and after data. What do we want to get out of it? How is it going so far? How did it go? This can allow real-time change and improvement, especially where more than one event is involved.

Theatre-based training can also be evaluated in terms of how memorable it is. In one company, several of the characters from the short scenes about poor communication were quoted in meetings back at work as examples of how NOT to behave> “I think you are being a bit of a Martin here – do you remember how closed-minded HE was?”!!!

Where can I find some good real life examples?

Good theatre-based trainers and developers provide references and case examples. Arts and Business (www.AandB.org.uk) also offer case examples and give awards for the more successful projects.

Who are your clients for theatre-based training and development?

Organisations and businesses from all sectors and of all sizes have made successful use of theatre-based training and development. Our own clients include Legal and General, Allied Domecq and Eurotunnel as well as smaller businesses such as Ashdown Hurrey (Accountants) and B & W Loudspeakers.
Public sector organisations such as the NHS and Brighton and Hove City Council are also among our clients for theatre-based training and development.

Do you ever just put on plays in business?

Yes. An emerging form of art-in-business is the use of theatre performance in business. The aim is to entertain, educate and to stimulate debate and change. Some plays are very directly related to business themes, whilst others are more traditional such as a Shakespeare play, though even a play such as Macbeth can be related to Leadership! Plays can be performed in order to stimulate debate, allow reflection on working life, to support a conference or workshop theme. For example, Re-Inventing the Cheese is a play all about work. – http://www.cats3000.org/cheese