Language, trust and transformation: exploring theatre as a research method with migrant youth

ABSTRACT

This article explores the challenges and benefits of using theatre as a research method. It questions certain claims and assumptions underlying Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed and more recent literature on theatre-based research. In particular, it investigates the notion that theatre enables participants to address issues of oppression and create socio-political change. Based on a case study with migrant youth in South Africa, the article firstly argues that certain challenges specific to working with migrants such as differing language skills and a lack of trust may impede genuine dialogic exchange as envisioned by Boal. Secondly, it shows how these challenges can be overcome by incorporating writing exercises, video recordings and embodied communication. Finally, the article argues that theatre-based research can indeed create individual transformations in the form of increased displays of ownership, confidence and hope. These insights contribute to the growing literature on theatre-based research and will be useful for others using similar arts-based approaches.

KEYWORDS:

• Theatre-based research
• arts-based research
• Theatre of the Oppressed
• migrant youth
• social transformation

Acknowledgments

I thank the participants of this study for their commitment and trust. I would also like to thank Ananda Breed for her helpful advice on how to address some of the challenges in the early stages of the project.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. For an in-depth analysis of the theatrical performances that participants developed during the project see Opfermann (2019).

2. Participants were recruited with the help of the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town, a local NGO. Prior to the research I had obtained formal ethics approval from the University of York as well as written informed consent from caregivers and participants. Throughout the project I maintained contact with the caregivers and regularly emphasised that participants were free to opt out of any activities.

3. In arts-based research it is common to start analysing the data during the data collection process (Dennis, 2009; Neuman, 2007). In accordance with this, I undertook a preliminary analysis during the workshop phase which served to verify my understanding of participants’ views and was intended to find answers to the first research question. The in-depth analysis of data concerning the third, methodological, research question discussed in this article took place after the project.

4. In reviewing the data I allowed the codes to emerge spontaneously. However, this process was also guided by my research questions. I used different colours to differentiate between reflective codes (red); factual codes (black); those referring to methodological issues (blue); and codes that referred to acting such as monologues and dialogues (green).

5. Despite being one of the dominant languages spoken in the Democratic Republic of Congo, some participants considered it as a rural language and felt embarrassed to speak it in front of others.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) and the European Union’s EUSA_ID Mobility Programme.

Notes on contributors

Lena S. Opfermann

Lena S. Opfermann holds a PhD in Politics (University of York), a Masters in International Humanitarian Action (Uppsala University) and a BA in Cultural Studies (European University Viadrina). She has a background in refugee protection and advocacy in Southern Africa and is interested in advancing the use of arts-based research methods in working with migrants and youth. Currently, she is a Teaching Fellow at the Durham Global Security Institute (Durham University).