Across the world there are thriving networks of practitioners whose work draws on dramatherapy (or drama therapy) - the intentional use of drama and theatrical practices as a tool for therapeutic change. Conferences, publications, social media campaigns, and more seek to bring together this diverse community, who are united by their belief in the transformational potential of the techniques they use.

            Dramatherapy: International Perspectives, Paradigms and Pedagogies will document, describe, and celebrate contemporary praxes of dramatherapy globally. Combining historical, socio-cultural, and autoethnographic accounts from a range of different practitioners, this book will explore the various roles that drama as therapy plays in education, in healthcare, in community settings, and more across the world.

            Focussing on the experiences of individual practitioners in different countries, each chapter will give an overview of the history of dramatherapy as a practice in that country, as well as reflections on the current social and institutional priorities in each cultural environment. Each writer will provide a snapshot of the reality of practicing as a dramatherapist in each locality, focussing on the challenges and opportunities facing the field, through discussion, case studies, and practical examples of how dramatherapy tools have been adapted to meet cultural demands.

            This book will provide invaluable insights for experienced dramatherapists and trainees, as well as those in adjacent fields who want to learn more about the arts psychotherapies. Through documenting contemporary practice, this title will capture an important phase of the global development of perspectives towards mental health and creative therapy approaches. Through capturing the objective and subjective voices of practitioners from a range of cultural backgrounds, we hope that this text will contribute towards the decolonisation of dramatherapy – enabling reflections of person-centred approaches from non-Eurocentric paradigms.

We are seeking contributors to submit proposals for chapters of approximately 3,500 words on the practice of dramatherapy in their country of residence. Writers would be those who identify as dramatherapists, or who use dramatherapy directly in their work. We would welcome co-authored chapters.

We encourage submissions from practitioners internationally. Our intention is to represent a wide range of practices, with a maximum of one chapter from each country. We would particularly encourage applications to cover those locations listed in the World Alliance of Drama Therapy’s (WADth) list of associations and representatives: including, but not limited to, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Italy, India, Israel, Iran, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, South Africa, South Korea, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, and United States of America.

Chapters will be edited and standardised. We cannot guarantee that all submissions can be included in the final manuscript.

Authors will need to be comfortable with academic writing styles and referencing, with an awareness of ethical considerations and the ability to demonstrate evidence of specific consent needed for any case studies included (if applicable).

Each chapter will act as a vignette of contemporary practices, rather than seeking to be fully representative of all modalities.

The format of each chapter can be adapted by the author(s). We encourage playful and creative approaches. A checklist for inclusion in each chapter:

• A brief history of drama as therapy in a particular country; including a literature review of locally situated research.
• A discussion of the social and cultural significance of dramatherapy as a practice in local institutions and academic spaces; focussing on the industries in which dramatherapy is often practised, the legal status of dramatherapy as a profession, and any associations or training programmes currently being run in the country.
• An auto-ethnographic exploration of dramatherapy in your practice; considering your personal ‘journey’ towards dramatherapy, the challenges and rewards of adapting to cultural paradigms, a case study, and a detailed example of one dramatherapy exercise which you have adapted in a person-centred and culturally sensitive manner.

Please submit the following information to Mike Clarke (mrc50@kent.ac.uk) by 16th June 2023 to be considered:

• A brief bio for each author (<100 words) with details about your current position, relevant training, and experience of dramatherapy and/or related fields.
• An abstract (<350 words) regarding your understanding of intercultural adaptation of dramatherapy theory and practice to your country of residence.

Co-Editors

Mike Clarke is a PhD candidate at the University of Kent, where his research explores brokenness and responses to animated media from a psychoanalytic perspective, and he is SEAS Programme Manager at Advocacy for All. He is a Sesame-trained dramatherapist and founder of The Same Page.

Anshuma Kshetrapal is a practicing Drama and Movement Therapist. She is a Founding Board Member and Vice President of the Indian Association of Dance Movement Therapy and Drama Therapy India. She is an educator and course director for multiple arts therapy courses across India and founder of The Color of Grey Cells and The Arts Therapists CoLab.

Indicative Timeline

16th June 2023

Bios and abstracts sent to mrc50@kent.ac.uk

30th June 2023

Confirmation of successful submissions

31st December 2023

Submission of first draft (3,500 words)

January to March 2024

Revise chapters as requested. Submission of final contributor bios.

April 2024

Submission to publishers

For any queries, please contact Mike Clarke at mrc50@kent.ac.uk.