Cinema Al-Balad in Jeddah has recently organized a drama therapy workshop to tackle the role of drama therapy in creative work and daily life, according to Arab News.
Themed “In drama we find the power to express, and in expression we find the power to heal,” the workshop was hosted in cooperation with both Lujain Faqerah, senior psychologist and creative arts supervisor, and Abdul Al-Shareef, actor and screenwriter.
How Can Drama Support Healing?
During the event, the participants had an opportunity to explore how drama can support emotional awareness, healing as well as connection.
“Drama is integrated naturally in our daily responses and situations. In a therapeutic setting, it helps us observe these interactions and reflect on a deeper level of our unconscious body gestures and movements that might reveal a lot about our personalities,” Faqerah said.
Through the participation of therapists, creatives and others, the workshop focused on how the therapeutic techniques that depend on drama can help people connect with unconscious behaviors. These techniques also foster self-expression and improve several skills such as acting and screenwriting.
Faqerah noted that drama therapy is not about performing; it is mainly about expressing emotions, memories, or internal conflicts.
“The word drama has a negative connotation to the extent that people reject it before trying. Drama therapy does not depend on acting skills or previous experience, but more on your self-expression and the challenges you experience,” she added.
Meanwhile, Al-Shareef said that many people may think that drama therapy is exclusively for artists, but it is not. It is a tool that help people know several practices to promote the quality of their lives.
Related Topics:
Saudi Arabia Highlights Cinematic Identity at Malmö Arab Film Festival
Saudi Film Festival Explores Cinematic Parallels between Saudi, Japanese Cinema
Film Commission Promotes Saudi Cinema at Beijing International Film Festival
