Drama is for Life is a program that explore the positive role of drama on everyday living. As an english and philosophy student I developed a great interest in theatre and drama; I enjoyed the space drama provided within which to explore philosophical issues. As my interest grew I also recognised the multiple benefits of drama itself. I noticed that my confidence and communication abilities improved, as did those of my fellow dramatists. Presentations, debates and speaking in front of large groups no longer caused the nervous anxiety of previous times.

I became interested in the power of drama to address these issues and to help people find their voice and express themselves more fully. On this journey I discovered Augusta Boal’s masterpice, Theatre of the Oppressed. As a fan of the Brazilian educator, Paulo Freire, the language and philosophy of Boal was familiar to me and in many ways underpinned my own understanding of drama. Boal’s techniques use theatre as a means of promoting social and political change. In the Theatre of the Oppressed, the audience becomes active, as “spect-actors” they explore, show, analyse and transform the reality in which they are living. Boal echoed my own philosophy of drama as a space within which to explore and challenge, to tease out social issues and life situations on the stage so that we may better understand them and improve them off the stage.

In recent years I have continued my exploration of drama as a means to both challenge and create; it has become my passion. The courses and workshops I offer are fully flexible and student centred. I have many options that cater for all needs and I particularly enjoy developing new materials for and with students to meet their own unique needs. I have worked with children, teenagers, adults, adults with intellectual disabilites, refugee groups, community groups and corporate or work focused team exercises. I particularly enjoy assisting people to find or develop a strength or quality that they doubt they have. This is of particular benefit in work situations where I have had great success with assisting professionals develop their presentation and speech making skills. Find your Voice can be provided both individually or in group situations and has multiple benefits. When we empower ourselves on the stage we naturally empower ourselves in all areas of our lives.

If you have any queries or would like to discuss any of the above with Garret please use the contact form on the contact page.