ARTICLE
Theatricality of children psychodrama — figment or necessity?
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Submission date: 2014-05-21
Final revision date: 2014-08-22
Acceptance date: 2014-09-03
Publication date: 2014-12-21
Psychoter 2014;171(4):49-61
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ABSTRACT
THEATRICALITY OF CHILDREN PSYCHODRAMA - FIGMENT OR NECESSITY?
(summary)
This article attempts to determine whether psychodrama involving children should be theatrical - supported theatrical means. The author suggests that the playful nature of children's psychodrama somehow makes it necessary to use different objects originating from a classical theater. This concerns in the peculiarity of scene, props, sound effects and music, light and colour. According to the author, the children psychodrama loses its power and the idea of therapeutic theater without these physical means.
The author quotes proofs that psychodrama has the theatrical origin and still uses his achievements on this. In his view, the ancient Greek theater, medieval theater, „Commedia dell’arte” and Shakespearean theater there are indisputable roots of psychodrama, the currents forming original source or specifically understood leaven.
The author gives specific examples revealing the proximity of the psychodrama of these theaters. The typical for them practice of colouring or exaggerate the acting, expectation from the actors of large own invention and expressiveness in the created characters, and above all insistent endeavour to pursue action plan is certainly symbolic elements connecting those theaters with the child psychodrama.
In conclusion, the author states that the theatricality of the children psychodrama is well-founded, and even very required. It is therefore not a figment but a necessity.