Intercultural Roots – Addressing Domestic Violence Through Forum Theatre

Intercultural Roots is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation established in 2018, promoting arts for health, social change and environment through creative and educational projects. They bring together practitioners, artists, scholars and teachers to create collaboratively and develop their practices for ecological public health, offering a range of initiatives in cultural, artistic, educational and mental health programs. These include embodied eco-arts practices such as dance and movement, visual arts and crafts, breathing and vocal techniques, music making and listening skills.

Their work addresses a wide spectrum of social issues, injustices and inequities including racism, climate crisis, economic inequalities, and gender and sexuality. They have successfully developed and delivered a range of projects with communities to address health injustices and inequities some of which work with groups experiencing specific disadvantages. In each case, Intercultural Roots co-creates project partnerships using arts-based approaches that enable artist-practitioners to share their practices in creative and applied ways to meet the identified needs of communities.

Addressing Domestic Violence Through Forum Theatre is an example of a project using co-produced creative approaches to address inequalities and the social determinants of health.

Addressing Domestic Violence Through Forum Theatre

Addressing Domestic Violence Through Forum Theatre, led by Intercultural Roots and funded by Peabody Community Fund, addresses the challenge of a significant rise in domestic violence and mental health issues exacerbated by the Covid-19 lockdown and subsequent cost of living crisis. Intercultural Roots aimed to counteract these issues by using Forum Theatre to engage Peabody Housing tenants from Pimlico, London and local residents in exploring and addressing violence and conflict in their lives and communities. Co-directors and facilitators of the project Drs. Andrea Maciel and Almiro Andrade aimed to create safe spaces for participants to recall, enact, and consider their experiences, the project sought to promote relational connectivity, social change, and a deeper sense of community belonging. This creative intervention focused on practical, embodied actions to foster personal growth and enhance the quality of life for those affected by domestic violence and mental challenges.

“We wanted to approach situations of violence and abuse. Many times this is difficult for people to deal with. Forum Theatre is an amazing tool because we approach the difficulty of evidence and the conflict in a very open and collective way.”

In the first year of the program that included more than five 2.5-hour Forum Theatre workshop sessions, 27 participants engaged in movement-led exercises, improvisations, and discussions to explore themes of conflict, care, and violence. These workshops created a safe, inclusive environment for participants to share personal experiences and collectively develop strategies for addressing violence and conflict. The sessions culminated in an informal performance for a small audience, showcasing the participant's collaborative work. The project facilitated personal growth, enhanced relational confidence, and fostered a sense of community.

Project Outcomes

The external evaluation and impact report by Claire Burrell from year 1 demonstrates that the project achieved significant positive outcomes. Participants reported enhanced confidence, improved communication skills, and a deeper understanding of conflict resolution. The workshops fostered a strong sense of community, with many participants feeling more connected and supported. Feedback indicated that the safe, inclusive environment allowed individuals to explore and address personal and collective issues of violence, leading to increased self-awareness and empathy.

Participants also experienced personal growth, with some noting a de-escalation of trauma symptoms and greater self-compassion. The project demonstrated the effectiveness of creative interventions in promoting mental health and social change, providing sustainable solutions and fostering a sense of belonging among community members. The overwhelmingly positive feedback highlighted the facilitator's ability to create a welcoming, engaging, and transformative experience for all involved. Support from Peabody Housing in outreach and community engagement was vital and collaborative efforts with community volunteers and the provision of childcare support eliminated barriers to participation.

The innovative use of Forum Theatre techniques allowed for meaningful exploration and resolution of complex issues, enhancing participants' personal growth and community cohesion. Finally, the positive feedback and active participation from community members reinforced the project impact, demonstrating the value of creative, community-focused interventions in addressing social challenges.

You can watch a film about the project here: Forum Theatre - A film by Bruno Rocha

Year 2 project activities in Westminster, London will commence in November 2024 with aspirations to continue and develop the project beyond.

Find out more about the work of Intercultural Roots here: https://www.interculturalroots.org/ | Contact Us

You can read Intercultural Roots’ full submission to the Creative Health Review here.