Generating Ethics and Social Justice in Applied Theatre Curricula

Abstract

Ethics are a set of principles and guidelines to help individuals make choices in order to avoid doing harm while working with others. Most professions have developed codes of ethics for their practitioners to follow in relation to their clients; however, a code of ethics for applied theatre has not yet been agreed upon by the field at large. This chapter presents a potential code of ethics for applied theatre based on the following factors: Boundaries, Competence, Participants’ Rights, Research, and Justice and Advocacy.

Having a code of ethics is not enough, unless practitioners know how to use it. A strong understanding of ethical guidelines strengthens future practitioners’ abilities to reflect on their work, provides clear ground rules and boundaries to follow in complex and volatile situations, and brings a clear-eyed responsibility to practice. Students of applied theatre need to leave school as effective, skilled, ethical practitioners in order to grow the field responsibly. A designated course in applied theatre ethics is the only way to assure that ethics get covered in enough depth to be fully understood; a piecemeal, class-by-class approach will be incomplete. The second half of this chapter provides examples of how to teach ethical concepts through embodied exercises and how to practice dealing with ethical dilemmas through the models of applied theatre.

Appendix: An Applied Theatre Code of Ethics

• 1. The Principle of Boundaries – For the Applied Theatre Practitioner boundaries refers to staying true to the models of applied theatre while keeping the safety of participants in mind.

  • a. Scope of Practice – An Applied Theatre Practitioner uses Applied Theatre for exploring social justice issues with a community of participants and does not engage in pure theatre entertainment, on one hand, or therapeutic intervention, on another.

  • b. De-roling – An Applied Theatre Practitioner ensures the safety of community participants by providing a de-roling exercise when the participant finishes performing a role in a performance, training, or workshop.

• 2. Competence and Professional Development – Applied Theatre Practitioners facilitate exploration into social justice issues through the models in which they have been trained.

  • a. Competence of Knowledge and Skills – The Applied Theatre Practitioner will have a base knowledge of applied theatre theories and models, directing, playwriting, and theatre pedagogy, and will be able to demonstrate skills in improvisation , directing, playwriting, teaching, and facilitation.

  • b. Cultural Competence – Applied Theatre Practitioners understand the communities and systems from which their audiences derive; acknowledge, accept, and address privilege (to include white privilege, economic, ablest, etc.); and cultivate cultural humility.

  • c. Professional Development – An Applied Theatre Practitioner engages in continued educational opportunities and seeks supervision to hone knowledge and skills.

• 3. Participants’ Rights – An Applied Theatre Practitioner protects and safeguards the dignity and rights of participants.

  • a. Confidentiality – An Applied Theatre Practitioner makes clear the limits of confidentiality to participants of an applied theatre performance or workshop.

  • b. Laws and Regulations – Applied Theatre Practitioners understand federal laws pertaining to confidentiality, such as FERPA and HIPPA, and facility specific regulations, such as in military installations or prisons.

  • c. Informed Consent – An Applied Theatre Practitioner obtains informed consent from audience members. This needs to include the limits of confidentiality, what is going to happen and how it will be done, risks and benefits of participating, the possibility of experiencing emotion or catharsis while playing a role, and the right to say no to participating at any time.

• 4. Research – The Applied Theatre Practitioner who conducts research adheres to the laws and regulations governing the conduct of research, following all criteria and processes established by the Institutional Review Board of the organization or institution in which they conduct research. In the absence of an Institutional Review Board, an Applied Theatre Practitioner seeks the ethical advice of qualified professionals not directly involved in the investigation to determine the extent to which research participants may be compromised.

• 5. Justice and Advocacy – Applied Theatre Practitioner is dedicated to making Justice and Advocacy the focus of the Applied Theatre work.