Abstract

This research paper summarizes the personal process of dramatic ritual and its healing effects within the creation of therapeutic theatre while exploring the research question: “How can dramatic rituals deepen the healing effects of therapeutic theatre, and how do performers benefit from ritual in a therapeutic theatre context?”. This paper includes the researcher’s reflections of the autoethnographic method, as explored through ethnographer Richard Schechner's (2011) three steps of naturalism, perception and exploration. This paper goes on to examine how dramatic rituals in therapeutic theatre benefit the self and communities through their inherent structure, safety and healing effects. Throughout the playmaking process the researcher examined rituals by performing them individually; understanding their effects, deepening his connections with his performers/actors, and gaining insight into the relationship between drama therapy and dramatic ritual.