AP17 Freebody

The 2024 IDEA congress theme orients to notions of harmony and humanity, experienced and developed through drama and theatre. This paper puts this idea under the microscope to celebrate and ask questions about what we do, why we do it, and how (if) we know it works.
Reporting on recent research projects undertaken by Scholars at The University of Sydney, in partnership with ASSITEJ and Australian Theatre for Young People, this paper will explore global research into the perceived benefits of theatre and drama for young people, unpacking the results of a systematic literature review and follow up arts-based interventions that sought to understand the perspectives of teachers and theatre practitioners, and what evidence exists for the value of theatre for young people.
This presentation will also discuss the gaps in our knowledge, exploring the implications of these gaps and directions for future research and practice.