Over the years, we have been involved in a number of projects aimed at tackling community regeneration. We would argue of course that much of our work is specifically about creating community and as such often leaves people with a taste for more. One thing we know for sure is that there are no quick fixes when community breaks down and no fast tracks to creating community. Through the process of the workshop, groups will experience a gamut of emotions. They will often laugh together and sometimes cry together and by sharing stories, hearts will open and a palpable empathy will be felt. This is the stuff that gels groups and brings people together. Through the shared stories we learn that we are not alone.
“The human story is both personal and universal. Our personal experiences of pain and joy, grief and despair, may be unique to each of us in the forms they take, yet our capacity to feel grief, fear, loneliness, and rage, as well as delight, intimacy, joy, and ease, are our common bonds as human beings. They are the language of the heart that crosses the borders of “I” and “you”. In the midst of despair or pain you may be convinced that no one has ever felt this way before. Yet there is no pain you can experience that has not been experienced before by another in a different time or place. Our emotional world is universal.” Christina Feldman. “ Compassion”
Areas where community regeneration projects take place are by definition places where issues of poverty, deprivation, social isolation etc. are present. Implicit in this will be strong emotions such as anger, guilt, shame, fear, apathy etc. This inner world “stuff” must be addressed as well as the outer manifestations such as lack of resources, or employment etc. Negative and destructive thinking and behaviour patterns once locked in can be identified and tackled through the process of forum theatre. Change can take place.
We’ve had the pleasure and privilege of listening to and making forum theatre from shared stories in a number of Community 1st areas for example Clase and Caemaur in Swansea, Pantyfynnon, Ammanford, Duffryn in Newport (Gwent) and Barmouth.
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