Making amends: towards a restorative practice in drama therapy

Abstract

This research is a theoretical comparative examination of two practices through their similarities and differences based on a qualitative method with an Interpretative Social Science approach. The intention is to find where these two practices, Drama Therapy and Restorative Justice synergise- whereupon lies a collaboration of approaches. To achieve this, Role Method as advocated for by Robert Landy, one of the proponents of drama therapy was employed. The outcome is a role method-based Restorative Drama Therapy process that is aimed at juveniles in diversion with minor crimes. It is the researcher’s believe that through a restorative drama therapy, the client (juveniles in diversion) can be allowed to travel into the distant memory and retrieve the dormant roles, interrogate and rehearse them as they prepare to inhabit them. This is because drama therapy and restorative justice share similarities especially in role creation. The synergy, I found in the similarities. In the differences though, is where I sit with the best practices in drama therapy to complement and anchor restorative principles in a drama therapy process.