Theatre-based Corporate Training & How it differs from traditional methods.

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I remember, involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin

In the space of experiential learning, theatre is “the wholesome experience”, and is spreading in popularity because of its hands-on approach as opposed to reading a training manual. Theatre based corporate training seeks to create experiences aligned to the senses of see, hear, and feel. This methodology invites participants to be more observational & participative. It is an experience that allows us to connect to the world of another person and at the same time connect to ourselves in our own world. Theatre based corporate training has the power to depict stark and true reality in a fascinating manner that evokes strong responses of delight, recognition, hope, at times grief and sadness. In a very short duration of time theatre-based training has the power to create stronger connection between the people who experience it.

The process unfolds through professional actors who enact powerful stories that depict the importance of certain behaviours and empower the audience to participate in how the story unfolds. Following this enactment, behavioural facilitator springboard to discussions for creating a space for self-reflection.

This methodology works best where the focus is on behavioural adaption, change management, Leadership, Inclusion, Unconscious bias, Awareness & Sensitization in the space of Gender, Generational & Cultural diversity.

Theatre based corporate training is impactful because it results in:

✓ An Independent evaluation of life events and choices that impact the participants work and professional behaviour

✓ Identification of better behaviours by the participants, especially since they are observing from a safe environment

✓ Deep emotional connect with the dramatized situation that promotes a deepened understanding and improved retention of the presented material

✓ A wholistic blended learning experience as it involves the engagement of multiple intelligences like Spatial, Kinesthetic, Interpersonal, Lingual and Intrapersonal

✓ An innovative method of identifying and surfacing unconscious biases

✓ Theatre based learning has an added advantage of being highly economical both in terms of cost and time

Traditional Workshop based Training

Advantages

• Deeper understanding of the mechanics behind unconscious bias

• Focuses on raising awareness

• Deeper interaction with facilitators on strategies, tools, and techniques due to smaller numbers

Limitations

• A possibility of entering the personal space of the participants too quickly; may be seen as ‘threatening,’ which may prevent deeper introspection and reflection

• The understanding of how collective behaviours can cascade into a larger issue is minimized