Teaching gender sensitivity through theatre
What constitutes gender insensitivity in the workplace? Perspectives may vary. Whichever way you look at it careless and sometimes deliberately damaging social conduct in the workplace can have severe impact on employee performance and professional development, say a group of theatre practitioners from Mind Adventures Theatre Company and Power of Play who hope to address this with their newest programme for corporates.
Together, the two companies have devised a programme on gender sensitivity in the workplace using theatrical techniques.“It’s a completely informal and safe space,” assures Sulochana Dissanayake from Power of Play.
“We’re approaching it from a very non-judgemental place because you can’t address something like this by trying to impose pre-conceived notions on your audience.” Instead, the facilitators will use theatre to engage with the participants, also allowing a time for reflection and feedback.
Power of Play, which has been involved with corporate training since 2011, co-devised this programme with Mind Adventures Theatre Company. Both groups have been heavily involved in the Lankan arts scene for quite some time, and have acquired a reputation for innovative techniques when it comes to their work.
The main facilitators for the programme on gender sensitivity will be Tehani Chitty, Tracy Holsinger and Arun Welandawe-Prematilleke from Mind Adventures with Dissanayake stepping in when necessary.
The need for such a programme has become more pronounced over the last few years, with both companies and their employees straddling an undefined line between what is and isn’t appropriate conduct in the workplace.
While the programme addresses gender bias when it comes to both men and women, it is generally women who tend to face the brunt of workplace insensitivity. Men too must face certain pre-conceived notions associated with gender (for example-difficulties faced by new fathers in obtaining paternity leave). “What we’re talking about is part of a much larger social issue,” says Chitty.
“We’ve all faced uncomfortable situations at work and that in turn affects our capabilities and productivity. At the end of the day gender insensitivity boils down to a lack of respect-we hope to shed light on the effect this can have on people and at your workplace.”
The idea, they say, is to start a conversation. “These issues can’t be solved in one day,” notes Dissanayake. “But what we can do is get people to see such incidents from a different perspective and to examine the role they play socially in the workplace.” By not taking a punitive approach, the facilitators are confident that a more open forum for discussion can be created.
Chitty, who acts as main facilitator for the programme, qualified in drama and movement therapy at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London. By using theatrical games she (alongside her fellow facilitators) hopes to draw genuine responses from the participants. For example at a trial session participants were asked to physically express the concept of ‘power’ with a partner.
Many arranged their partner’s body into an extremely aggressive stance-“it was very interesting for us as facilitators,” remembers Dissanayake. “Only one person chose to go with a more meditative, calm pose.” Following the games, they discussed progress with the participants.
“We want people to treat their colleagues with respect, empathy and kindness,” says Chitty. This hands-on physical approach encourages the participants to use voice and movements to express themselves, and in the process “become more self-aware”. After all, they say, “through play you reveal your most genuine self.”
For more details contact 0773496389 or visit www.powerofplay.com