Theoretical Theatre: harnessing the power of comedy to teach social science theory

Gravey, Viviane, Lorenzoni, Irene, Seyfang, Gill ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4696-0798 and Hargreaves, Tom ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3764-7364 (2017) Theoretical Theatre: harnessing the power of comedy to teach social science theory. Journal of Contemporary European Research, 13 (3). pp. 1319-1336. ISSN 1815-347X

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Abstract

Role playing is increasingly used in European Studies and political science, to foster students’ understanding of social science theories. Generally, role playing is only done by students. Not so in Theoretical Theatre, a teaching innovation which puts the onus on teachers to act. In our performances, teachers embody competing theories and enact dramatic scenarios in front of, and in collaboration with, their student audience. We explain how we developed Theoretical Theatre and contextualise it in the pedagogical literature of games and simulations, and of Drama In Education. We reflect on our experience of performing across four modules since 2012, and on our students’ feedback, to discuss three key themes emerging from our practice: making theory more interesting and engaging, easier to understand and apply; and changing classroom dynamics and engagement. We outline the challenges and opportunities in sustaining this teaching method and transferring it to other settings and disciplines.

Item Type: Article
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences
UEA Research Groups: University of East Anglia Schools > Faculty of Science > Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research
Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Science, Society and Sustainability
Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Centre for Social and Economic Research on the Global Environment (CSERGE)
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Environmental Social Sciences
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Collaborative Centre for Sustainable Use of the Seas
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Marine Knowledge Exchange Network
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Depositing User: Pure Connector
Date Deposited: 31 May 2017 08:31
Last Modified: 16 Dec 2023 01:56
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/63622
DOI:

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