Twentieth International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations

Abstract

Research has indicated that refugees often feel a sense of alienation and exclusion, which makes them less likely to care about becoming active members in their host communities. My paper questions the role of using performing arts techniques, with a focus on applied theatre, to create a module (based on previous applied theatre modules I have created) for making refugees in general, and Arab refugees in particular, aware of the possibilities of social inclusion potentials in their host community. Geographically, my work will span across Europe and the Middle East, and the focus would concentrate on the Syrian refugees in Europe. The research also sheds light on applied theatre contribution to their general well-being especially while they negotiate urging questions of identity transformation and exclusions. My study addresses the following questions: How can applied theatre be used as a catalyst for personal and social transformation among asylum seekers in their host community? How can applied theatre forge a level of social bonding among refugees? How can applied theatre contribute to negotiating identity transformations among refugees? How effective is the use of applied theatre in addressing refugee issues? My work is presented in a hybrid format that connects practice to research.