Combating Anti-Social Behaviour through theatre

It was a roller coaster ride for residents and staff at Drum Housing Association’s Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Challenge Day. In a dynamic approach to ASB Drum employed the services of a theatre group who specialise in working with groups to help explore social issues. In a series of interactive theatre sessions delegates explored behaviour and prejudice, and looked at the world through the eyes of different characters. As the sessions began to uncover the complexity of modern communities the audience soon got to grips with issues that any other medium would find difficult to explore.

Actors took on different characters in a staged meeting about ASB. The audience was split into groups, each group taking ownership of a character, dictating their script in the play and determining how they might respond to different situations. Sensitive issues soon emerged for as the groups swapped actors and began to see how different people interpreted their own and other people’s actions.

Alice Mair from The Garnett Foundation, who organised the workshops, said. “People are often surprised by the approach we take but interactive theatre is a great medium for exploring issues. The objective is to help people look at ASB from different points of view. By appreciating how others might think, in a non-threatening environment, it becomes easier to discuss and resolve issues.”

In a recent survey Anti-social Behaviour was identified as the single biggest issue facing Drum’s residents. The Challenge Day was attended by 70 Drum residents, keen to eradicate the problem of ASB from their neighbourhoods. The Home Office representative, Susan Strickland, spoke at the meeting, underlining the Government’s strategy on ASB, called ‘Respect’.

Following this, Drum’s Chief Executive Andrew Cobb signed the Respect Standard, which means that the Association will work within the procedures and responses to incidence of ASB.

ENDS

Notes.
For further information please contact:
Maria Garside, Public Relations Manager on 01730 403080 or 07748 113364
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